While leading the groundbreaking of a housing development project, Senator and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao was named “Ambassador of the Homeless and Vulnerable” by the international philanthropic organization Spring Rain Global.
Pacquiao pointed to his impoverished past, formerly forced to sleep on the streets and live in makeshift shanties, as the impetus for making housing an administrative priority, Philstar Global stated.
“(Having a decent home) not only will provide shelter, warmth, and comfort to the poor, but it will also give people a sense of dignity and thus give them the motivation to improve their way of life,” said Pacquiao.
Pacquiao led the groundbreaking of a community center of a housing project at the reclamation area in Barangay Subangdako, Mandaue City, Ceby on Feb. 7, which is where the formal naming was bestowed onto him by the SRG.
The SRG facilitates funding for various humanitarian projects, particularly in Third World Countries, and has been working on the construction of 3,000 housing units at reclamation areas with the Mandaue city government, according to Inquirer.net.
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Pacquiao also expressed his intentions to fight in the 2022 presidential race at this event, despite critics asking him to step down.
If elected president, Pacquiao plans on building at least 10 million houses to be distributed for free to approximately 1.6 million informal settlers and to over 9 million family renters or to those living with their extended families, Inquirer.net reports.
In addition, Pacquiao believes federal intervention will be necessary to aid the housing crisis in the Philippines.
After building five housing subdivisions deemed “Pacman Villages” in General Santos City and Sarangani province, Pacquiao said he realized: “It is impossible to address the country’s housing problem without the full and direct support of the government.”
At the close of the ceremony, Pacquiao distributed relief packs to at least 500 residents of Barangay Tipolo, noted The Manila Times.
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