Housing developers back new gov’t policy on illegal settlers

MANILA, Philippines — The Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines expressed its support to a new government policy on informal settlers.

The Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) has adopted the National Resettlement Policy Framework for displaced informal settlers.

The framework covers informal settler families displaced by the government programs or because of disasters, calamities and those residing in danger prone areas.

OSHDP president Marcelino Mendoza fully supported the adoption especially the principles of involuntary and off-city resettlement as a last resort and identification of available lands and its mobilization for socialized housing, inventory of idle government lands and LGU-owned foreclosed properties.

Mendoza said the framework would go a long way in making a dent on the country’s million housing backlog. Informal settlers account for 1.4 million families, per government estimates.

With the framework, the local governments shall be full partners in the planning, implementation and management of resettlement programs.

Government shall also invest in and build the necessary administrative, social, financial and physical infrastructure for resettlement.

Mendoza said the framework now ties up the loose ends on the identification of responsibilities in the provision of resettlement housing between national housingagencies like the National Housing Authority and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board on one hand and the local government units on the local level.