There is no conflict of interest in Joly Homes Foundation’s helping the onsite housing program to be implemented by mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez in Bacolod City, his spokesman lawyer Lyzander Dilag said Friday, June 17.
Benitez said on Monday, June 13, that he is aiming to start the construction of affordable onsite condominium-like housing units for Bacolod informal settler families (ISFs) in the first year of his term as mayor.
The Joly Homes Foundation staff are starting the social preparation for the project, because before the plan is executed it needs to be accepted by the intended beneficiaries, Benitez said.
Opponents of Benitez claim that tapping the foundation is in conflict of interest since it was founded by his family.
The mayor-elect’s father is the late Jose Conrado “Joly” Benitez who served as deputy minister of human settlements under President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
The two to three-storey housing buildings will be built on site, in city or near city so the ISFs will not be relocated away from their livelihoods, Dilag said.
Dilag said there is no conflict of interest in tapping the help of Joly Homes Foundation because the city government will not be paying for its services.
Conflict of interest will apply if the city pays the foundation, Dilag said.
Benitez said he is raising up to P5 billion to kick off the first phase of an affordable onsite housing program.
“We are looking at raising between P3 to 5 billion for phase one of our housing program. We will issue LGU bonds so we are coordinating with the national treasury and the Department of Finance on how to go about it,” Benitez said.
Meanwhile, Dilag said the Bacolod City Comprehensive Health Program (BCCHP) is a top priority of Benitez to address the critical health needs of Bacolodnons.
Dilag cited the fact that people have been seen lying on the sidewalk in front of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod early in the morning in order to get medical help.
“That is not only lamentable, it is heartbreaking to see,” he said.
Benitez has held talks with PhilHealth and private hospital officials so Bacolod residents will not be faced with the problem of having to pay a down payment on admission, Dilag said.
A memorandum of agreement with private hospitals is being finalized, he said.
The BCCHP card will cover for the down payment for hospital admission, Dilag said.*