BY JOEL P. MAPILES
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Governor Lilia Nanay Pineda urged the line agencies of teh government to work together and converge their resources with the local government units LGUs) to effectively serve the people and meet its performance target every year.
This statement was made by Governor Pineda, chair of social development committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC) during the 1st full council meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC) Sectoral Committee on Social Development on Wednesday.
The governor urged the National Housing Authority, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to work together in the identification of unoccupied hectares of land, housing and building facilities owned by the government and maximize its use.
“The local government units are in need of vacant lots, new facilities for the homeless and the sick especially now that the we are experiencing climate change,” she said.
She also urged the line agencies and local officials to start the practice of acquiring land and holding it for future use or do land banking.
“That’s what I am doing now, the provincial government purchased 4 hectares of land in Barangay San Isidro in Magalang and another one in Barangay Telapayong owned by the NHA for future use of those who would be affected by landslides in Arayat and flooding in the 4th district. I am planning to use these vacant lots for the construction of housing units and permanent evacuation centers of the affected families,” she said.
“Hindi kasi puwede na kung may kalamidad na o nangyayari na ang sakuna ay doon ka palang maghahanap ng mapaglilipatan sa mga apektadong pamilya. Kailangan pro-active tayo at anticipatory sa mga bagay na mangyayari kundi kawawa ang mga tao, kaya magtulungan tayo,” the governor said.
The governor said the DOH, DSWD, NHA and the LGUs should work and coordinate with each other as the NHA has so many abandoned day cay centers and health clinics particularly in the resettlement centers, they remained unutilized by the government and no activities are being done.
“Kung may magandang ugnayan at nagpapalitan ng mga impormasyon ang mga ahensiyang ito at ang LGUs, puwedeng pakinabangan ang mga bakanteng pasilidad ng NHA sa dami ng mga bata at mga taong nangangailangan ng ganyan,” she said.
She said the LGUs instead of asking the national government for more funds for the construction of facilities like day care centers and health clinics, they will just renovate the said abandoned buildings with minimal expenses, if coordination and cooperation are being undertaken.