Housing developers laud new department

MANILA, Philippines — Mass housing developers welcomed the recent signing of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 11201 or the Act Creating the Department of Human Settlements and Urban development (DHSUD).

DHSUD consolidates the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB).

Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP) president Jefferson Bongat said the new IRR would bring the government closer to the people.

At present, stakeholders from provinces in different regions have to travel long distance to reach multi-regional centers and meet the needs serviced by the government.

With the new department, regional offices are envisioned to be established, additional positions will be created, and the existing budget appropriations augmented, subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Socialized Housing Alliance Roundtable Endeavor (SHARE) president Marcelino Mendoza urged the immediate constitution of the National Human Settlements Board (NHSB), which is envisioned to act as the single policymaking body.

NHSB will provide overall policy directions and perform program development to the housing sector.

“The new law provides for the department to develop idle government lands, and also manage and oversee emergency post-disaster or post-conflict shelter recovery or climate change adaptation and mitigation, disaster risk reduction provision and intervention.

All of these functions will entail creation of new programs and addition of new personnel and resources specifically in the areas of public housing and human settlements and in the fields of policy formulation and development, coordination and monitoring,” Mendoza said.

Moving forward, both organizations strongly urge the DHSUD and the DBM to fast track transition as provided by the IRR in order for the stakeholders to realize the objectives envisioned in the creation of the department.

With the IRR, the government hopes to address the 6.5 million housing backlog.