Ejercito: Human Settlements Department will address housing problems

MANILA, Philippines — The new law that seeks consolidate housing agencies into a new Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) will address the housing problems in the Philippines, Senator JV Ejercito said on Tuesday.

“The DHSUD will better address the housing problems of the country; specifically, housing backlog in relation to housing production, the increasing number of informal settlers at risk, and the poor implementation of existing housing laws,” Ejercito, principal author of the measure, said in a statement.

Ejercito was referring to Republic Act. No. 11201 which was recently approved by President Rodrigo Duterte.

READ: Duterte signs into law bill establishing Human Settlements Department

Under the new law, the DHSUD will merge administrative functions of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and planning and regulatory functions of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board.

The DHSUD will be the sole government agency tasked to monitor and create policies for all housing and urban development concerns primarily focusing on access and affordability of decent and secure shelters.

Ejercito then acknowledged Duterte for signing the law, which he said would “create the roadmap for housing and urban development, lead in its implementation, set the general direction and monitor each project with clear policies.”

The DHSUD will also implement government’s housing programs for homeless Filipinos, Ejercito noted.

“Ang DHSUD ang katuparan ng pangarap ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino na walang tirahan na magkaroon ng disente at maayos na tahanan dahil ang ahensiyang ito ang magtitiyak ng mabilis at maayos na implementasyon ng programang pabahay ng pamahalaan,” the senator said.

(The DHSUD will fulfill every Filipino family’s dream to have a decent home. This agency will ensure that the housing programs of the government will be implemented.) /ee