11-storey ‘smart housing’ not just a campaign promise, but Team Sarah’s core advocacy
“A house is not a home for families without sustainable livelihood,” says Pasig mayoralty aspirant Sarah Discaya
Providing low-income or indigent families with government-sponsored housing projects, without supporting sustainable livelihood, will not succeed, warned Discaya.
“Giving them a roof without jobs or economic opportunities for their daily sustenance will only make their lives harder,” she stressed, highlighting the burden of paying electric and water bills, as well as the rising cost of basic commodities in the city.
In an interview, Discaya emphasized that Pasigueños are entitled to a full suite of government programs where residents are “taught to fish,” instead of simply being handed a housing plan with no long-term support.
“The cost of health maintenance and education for children may entitle a family to own a house, but it doesn’t make it a home,” Discaya added.
She warned that without a comprehensive housing and livelihood plan bundled together, Pasigueños would be “left to drown by themselves.”
One of Discaya’s landmark proposals, should she be elected, is the construction of an 11-storey housing project for Pasigueños. She stressed the importance of such a development, given that Pasig is a flood-prone area.
This housing establishment will be planned near commercial areas, which Discaya hopes will balance the need for both a home and livelihood for Pasigueños.
“In our long-term development blueprint, it will be a ‘smart homes’ project aligned with all other smart plans for public services in Pasig which we will ultimately convert into a smart city,” Discaya emphasized.
With her family’s experience as Quaruple-A builder, Discaya also understands the housing challenges in Pasig, where limited space makes large housing projects difficult.
She added that while the incumbent local government has proposals for in-city relocation and housing projects, they will remain a “pipe dream” under the present LGU leadership as its administration has directed its resources toward the construction of the P10-billion new city hall.
In addition to thw ‘smart homes’ project, Discaya also advocates for the construction of a “smart waste” facility, which she believes will help address flooding in the city once the rainy season begins.
