Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12) – Senator Manny Pacquiao vowed to allocate a yearly budget of ₱400 billion to provide free housing for the poor if he wins the presidency.
In a statement, the presidential candidate said he can address the country’s housing backlog in just half of his term.
The program, he noted, would cover not just informal settlers, but also Filipino families who are still renting apartments.
This would also spur a “massive construction boom” across the country, further boosting economic recovery, Pacquiao said.
The former boxing superstar said the funds – which would be distributed to local government units – would come from his “all-out war” against corruption.
He said eliminating corruption could provide the government an additional ₱700 billion to ₱1 trillion.
Pacquiao said the failure to stamp out corruption is the reason “the government barely makes a dent in its anti-poverty campaign.”
“Kaya ako tumatakbo dahil ayaw kong maranasanan pa ng mga Pilipino ang kahirapang pinagdaanan ko,” he said.
[Translation: I’m running because I don’t want Filipinos to go through the hardships I went through.]
Aside from providing free housing, Pacquiao also promised to allocate funds as loan facilities for small businesses.
