Debate participants stress affordable housing need

The government should consider building public housing after it reclaims unused land plots, according to several participants in the weekly TDM outdoor program, Macau Forum. During the debate, it was suggested that the government should provide better-affiliated facilities at future public housing communities.
In 2015, the government provided more than 1,900 public housing units, and over 42,000 residents applied for the houses. Lawmaker Si Ka Lon considered the large amount of applicants as an indication that the region lacks affordable housing.
Kou Ngon Fong, president of Macao Tri-Decade Union, pointed out some recent opinions in favor of using public lands for purposes other than building public houses, such as public facilities. Kou contends that the government should build public housing as soon as the plots are back in its possession.
“We should think: how can a community reap the benefits of public housings in terms of public facilities?” posited Kou, he also suggested that the government think in advance regarding the building of the houses and providing better public facilities when owning empty plots.
In response, Iun Ioc Va, assistant coordinator of the Advisory Council of Community Services of the Islands, claimed that it is necessary to add more public houses but it is more important to make plans aiming for the future community development. A participant used the Seac Pai Van public housing to illustrate the negative impact that a lack of planning in the development of communities might cause. “The Seac Pai Van public housing was built in the first instance, and only after that came the design for the development of a community. After so many years of changes, the facilities at Seac Pai Van are seriously lagging behind.”
Wu Chou Kit, a member of the Urban Planning Council, also asked the government to plan before building. He indicated that a few private house buyers regret having bought their properties, after years of living in their homes, because the lands surrounding their houses have been approved for the construction of a power plant.
However, the aforementioned remarks, opinions and suggestions are believed by some people to be inert and incapable of contributing to any solutions concerning the public housing issues. “Problems pile up because we have an incompetent government,” said Iong Chong, one of the members of the audience at yesterday’s forum. “Our Chief Executive is interested in ribbon-cutting. He is not interested in work. The government is sleeping, it is incapable,” said Iong.
Another member of the audience, Lam Meng, also commented that the government is not able to solve problems. “The government is good at using money, […] if you have problems, go solve them by yourself,” said Lam.
In conclusion, the four speakers urged the government to prioritize public housing, as long as the government possesses suitable lands. The speakers emphasized the importance of having public facilities and social services featured in the design of future projects. Staff reporter