Law creating new housing agency lauded

The country’s biggest real estate groups hailed the passage into law of Republic Act No. 11201, which established the much awaited Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

The said law, which seeks to consolidate housing agencies, is expected to enable the government to better and more efficiently address housing concerns, particularly the massive backlog in the country today.

As of 2017, the housing backlog was estimated to have reached some 6.57 million units.

“We welcome the passage of the DHSUD as a necessary step to provide our huge housing concerns the keen attention it deserves at the highest level of government, encompassing effective shelter finance, production, regulations and administration,” said Noel M. Cariño, national president of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations Inc. (Creba).

Cariño pointed out that Creba, the largest real estate and housing group in the country,  has always believed that these interrelated functions cannot be addressed by a mere coordinating body. In fact, establishing the DHSUD has always been part of Creba’s 5-point advocacy.

“As a Chamber, we will continue to be on the lookout to ensure that the spirit of the new DHSUD, a bill that we have supported for the last three decades, will be implemented decisively for the benefit of the millions of homeless Filipinos,” Cariño further said.

Coordinated approach

In a joint statement sent to the Inquirer, the Center for Housing and Independent Research Synergies (CHAIRS) and Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing  Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP) similarly recognized the significance of the newly signed law.

“The creation of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development will ensure a more focused and coordinated approach in the pursuit of addressing the country’s housing need and urban development concerns. The DHSUD also enhances the chances for a bigger share of the housing sector in the allocation of the budget pie,” the groups said.

“The policies and programs on housing have been set up and are already in place, and the creation of the DHSUD will further strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of these goals. It will also give further focus on the urban development concerns which has been relegated on the side in the past, which have direct effects on housing as well,” the groups added.

CHAIRS and OSHDP jointly pointed out that the housing sector will now have “an equal footing and priority and importance accorded to other sectors with corresponding departments such as health, education, public works, local governance, transportation and communications, and labor and employment, among others.”

Provisions

Apart from merging the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) into a new department, the law also provides the creation of a National Human Settlements Board which will “facilitate a more holistic, synchronized and synergistic approach in directions on policy and program formulations of the sector and all of the other key shelter agencies.”

Also to be created are Housing One Stop Processing Centers (HOPCs) to address the concerns of rationalizing and fast-tracking the processing and issuance of all requirements and related permits and licenses.

“With all these developments and the participation of key government offices… in shelter activities, a more thorough and inclusive approach to addressing the increasing housing backlog can be expected,” the two groups noted.

“The provision of proper and conducive climate for private sector participation is expected including financial institutions, and this will redound to a more vibrant and sustainable housing sector. The delineation of specific segments of targeted housing clientele for the government and the private sector, the pursuit for more access to land for settlements, the establishment of HOPCs to rationalize permitting process, the sustainable financing for housing, and more importantly the participation of the local government units and the communities in housing activities will ensure mass housing production and a greater supply of socialized and affordable housing,” they further explained.