Human Rights Council: 43rd Regular Session
Salle XX, Palais des Nations
05 March 2020
Agenda Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing
Speaking time: 1 min. 30 sec.
Thank you, Madam President.
My delegation thanks the Special Rapporteur for her report.
We recognize that the Guidelines provided by the SR highlighted the rights of certain vulnerable sectors to adequate housing. The Philippines believes that it is equally important that the guidelines emphasize the right of older persons to adequate housing as they often face housing insecurity and homelessness due to lack of opportunities to pay rental or maintenance costs, among other constraints.
Guideline no. 6 referred to prohibition of focred eviction under all circumstances regardless of ownership or tenure of those affected. While eviction or demolition as a practice shall be discouraged, under our law this may be allowed, with safeguards and due consultation, in situations where persons or entities occupy danger areas such as railroad tracks, garbage dumps, riverbanks, waterways and other pubilc places, or where there is a court order for eviction and demolition.
The Philippines‘ BALAI Housing Program, which refers to “Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable and Inclusive“ Filipino communities is the Duterte administration’s ten- year national housing program strategy to close the country’s housing gap. This is in concrete support of the attainment of the Filipino dream, articulated in the planning document Our Ambition 2040, of home ownership.
The Philippine government exerts every effort to promoting safe, secure, and well-planned communities where families can enjoy a life that is strongly-rooted, comfortable and secure. We wish to assure the Special Rapporteur with the Philippines‘ continued cooperation with her mandate.
Thank you, Madam President. END.