Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Jr., chairperson of the Committee on Housing, Rural and Urban Development (Socialized Housing Projects), and on the Oversight Committee of the City Council of Davao, has called on government housing agencies to allocate free housing units for the poorest and homeless families, arguing that public housing programs should prioritize human dignity and social justice over financing and collections.
Mahipus urged the government to reserve a significant portion of housing units for families with no capacity to pay, even under subsidized housing schemes.
“Gamiton nato ang kwarta sa gobyerno aron adunay libre ug disenteng puy-anan ang walay kapuy-an, allocate units for free for the poorest of the poor, homeless,” Mahipus said.
The councilor said government housing projects offered by the local government, the National Housing Authority (NHA), the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), and other agencies have provided hope to many families seeking permanent shelter.
However, he noted that many of the poorest households remain unable to benefit from these programs because they cannot afford monthly amortization payments.
“What happens to those who cannot afford even the affordable option?” Mahipus asked.
He stressed that housing should not be viewed solely as an economic or financial issue but as a fundamental matter of human dignity.
“Housing is not merely an economic concern. Housing is not merely a social concern. Housing is a matter of human dignity,” he said.
Mahipus pointed out that while some low-income families can manage subsidized payments, others have no financial capacity at all, making even government-assisted housing inaccessible.
“If there remain poor families who cannot benefit from the program, then government must also be willing to explore other mechanisms to ensure that no one is left behind,” he said.
The councilor said that government should not expect to generate income from housing programs intended for underprivileged beneficiaries.
“Ang gobyerno dili negosyo. Ang katuyoan sa gobyerno dili pagpangita ug kita gikan sa mga kabus. Ang katuyoan sa gobyerno mao ang pagserbisyo sa katawhan, ilabi na sa mga labing nanginahanglan sa tabang sa Estado,” he said.
Mahipus proposed that housing agencies consider mechanisms such as gratuitous usufruct arrangements, allowing qualified beneficiaries to occupy housing units without paying amortization or occupancy costs.
According to him, housing for the poorest sectors should not always be tied to ownership.
“Sometimes, it must first be viewed as a pathway to safety, stability, and dignity,” he said.
Mahipus also cited recurring disasters and displacement incidents that continue to expose the vulnerability of thousands of families without secure housing.
He pointed to communities devastated by fire incidents in Davao City that left more than a thousand homes destroyed, as well as families displaced by demolitions, flooding, landslides, and other hazards.
“These tragedies remind us that many of our people still do not have safe, decent, and permanent homes,” he said.
The councilor challenged the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), NHA, SHFC, and other housing stakeholders to redefine how housing programs are measured.
“Dili nato sukdon ang kalampusan sa housing program pinaagi lamang sa gidaghanon sa natukod nga units. Dili nato sukdon kini pinaagi lamang sa collection efficiency o sa gidaghanon sa nakabayad. Sukdon nato kini pinaagi sa gidaghanon sa mga walay kapuy-an nga nahatagan ug kapuy-anan,” he said.
Mahipus said the true measure of a housing program is not the number of houses built but the number of homeless families given a place to live.
He reiterated his appeal for government to direct public resources toward those most in need.
“Spend public funds to provide safe and decent housing for those who have no homes of their own especially the poorest among our people who have no capacity to pay for the housing programs being offered today. Let government housing programs become instruments not merely of financing, but of social justice, human dignity, and genuine poverty alleviation,” he said.
