DHSUD encourages collaboration via monthly ‘Kapihan’
Last Wednesday, we reached another milestone in terms of engaging our stakeholders, including the public at large, by launching “Kapihan sa DHSUD: Housing Matters”—the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development’s monthly forum aimed at promoting participatory governance in the housing sector.I am humbled by the all-out support for this forum by key players in the industry, led by the Chamber of Real Estate Builders’ Association Inc. (Creba), the Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP), the National Real Estate Association (NREA), the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) and the Real Estate Brokers Association of the Philippines (Rebap) Inc.
The doors of DHSUD are always open for all stakeholders, particularly our partner-developers, to ensure that we craft our policies based on the realities on the ground, and lay out plans and programs efficiently and effectively. “Kapihan sa DHSUD” is another door through which we can welcome valuable inputs that are essential in shaping the future of the country’s housing sector.
Birth pains
DHSUD continues to experience “birth pains” two years after its creation by virtue of Republic Act 11202 as the primary national government entity responsible for the management of housing, human settlement and urban development in the country. Hence, the need to use all possible platforms to communicate our mandate and programs to Filipinos.Sometimes, we are still mistaken for the defunct Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) and the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC)—the two agencies that merged to create DHSUD in 2019.
DHSUD became officially operational on Jan. 1, 2020.
Ultimately, our mandate has widened and we have adopted various organizational and functional changes, which eventually translated into policy adjustments. We know these must be communicated, thus, the need to explore ways to massively promote our advocacies and programs and, more importantly, engage stakeholders.As what we have been doing under our current global COVID-19 pandemic, we are optimizing the use of online platforms to build mutually beneficial partnerships with our stakeholders.
Closer collaboration
With “Kapihan,” we would like our stakeholders to know that we hear them—we acknowledge the demand for information. We are here to listen, gather opinions and discuss relevant matters which will bring the housing sector to greater heights through closer collaboration.
Kapihan sa DHSUD: Housing Matters will be streamed live via our official Facebook page
@DHSUDgovph, initially once a month. The general public can participate in the discussion and share their insights. I am also proud that we have the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Property Section as partner in this endeavor.
The title of the show itself embodies DHSUD’s commitment to bring the ease and joy of a free-flowing conversation that happens among family members inside the comfort of their homes. We will provide a venue to inspire and educate each other.
I would like to emphasize that we count on the public’s valuable inputs to further enhance the delivery of our services towards improving the lives of Filipinos in our vision to provide affordable and adequate housing, well-planned communities and inclusive, sustainable human settlements.
We envision “Kapihan sa DHSUD” to create an avenue conducive for information sharing. We will also highlight the programs and services of the department and our attached key shelter agencies. We request the public to rally on the department’s advocacies while we provide an opportunity to also express their concerns and recommendations.
In the next months, we have prepared a line-up of timely and relevant topics which will certainly impart significant information on the things that we do in the department. Let’s flesh out relevant issues surrounding us today. Let’s have a meaningful and engaging discussion.
The success of this endeavor is a team effort, not just within the walls of DHSUD, but among all of us—colleagues in the government, partners in development and the ordinary Filipinos who continue to dream of having a house of their own. We hope you can join us every episode as we sip our coffee and engage in productive discussions.
Tara na, kape tayo at mag-usap tayo!
Exactly a year ago this month, we forged a partnership with the PDI-Property Section that gave birth to this space aptly baptized as Housing Matters that serves as a key medium to reach out to our audience in the housing and real estate sector. On behalf of the entire TeamDHSUD, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Inquirer management for providing us a powerful tool to deliver the good news with this column.
