Former Senator and senatorial candidate Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Saturday vowed to address pressing issues affecting the urban poor sector—particularly the lack of low-cost housing—if he wins another term in the Senate.


Pangilinan made the commitment when he joined the covenant signing of the Koalisyon ng Organisadong Samahan ng Maralitang Taga-Lungsod (KOSMAT) at the National Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Loreto in Sampaloc, Manila.


The event was participated in by 17 urban poor community organizations and their members, who presented their policy agenda.


“Handa tayong makipag-ugnayan sa mga grupo na mayroon kinalaman sa mga isyu na may kinalaman ang urban poor, partikular ang grupo ng KOSMAT,” Pangilinan said.


The former Senator noted that affordable housing for the urban poor sector was among his top priorities during his stint as Senate Committee on Housing in his first term as a lawmaker.


He recalled working closely with Gawad Kalinga, a non-governmental organization known for establishing sustainable communities across the country, to help provide homes for the urban poor across the country.


“Nagawa na natin ito noong tayo’y chairman ng Senate Committee on Housing noong unang termino natin. Nakipag-ugnayan tayo sa Gawad Kalinga. Tayo ang tanging tanggapan ng gobyerno noong panahon na iyon na naglaan ng pinakamalaking pondo sa Gawad Kalinga,” Pangilinan said.


Before his partnership with Gawad Kalinga began, Pangilinan said there were only 21 GK sites. After five years of continuous support from Pangilinan’s office, the number of GK sites outside Metro Manila increased to more than 1,200 after five years.


“Bakit natin isinulong ito. Naniniwala tayo na ang pondo ng gobyerno, mas tamang magagamit kapag ang private sector at stakeholders, kasama ang gobyerno, ay nagkakaisa at nagtutulungan,” he said.


Among KOSMAT’s policy agenda and key proposals are legislative inquiries into government housing projects and the 4PH program, funding for the implementation of the People’s Plan, a moratorium on amortization-related evictions in NHA sites, and the condonation of loans in relocation areas.