Duterte yet to appoint head of newly formed housing department

President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo from an RTVM video)

MANILA, Philippines–President Duterte has not yet chosen a secretary to head the newly-created Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

The President said he still has to consult with Senate President Vicente Sotto III, House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and Sen. Aquilino “Kiko” Pimentel III on the matter.

“Not yet. That would be a long shot because that would also need the… I need to talk to Speaker Arroyo, Sen. Pimentel, and Tito Sotto,” he said on Friday.

Mr. Duterte said he preferred that the yet-to-be-appointed secretary of the new department has the approval of the three lawmakers.

“It’s better that they like the person so he can receive… a better reception, you know, if they know the person well,” he added.

Duterte on February 14 signed Republic Act 11201 creating the DHSUD, which seeks to consolidate all housing agencies of the government.

The law will merge the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board.

The new department will be in charge of planning and policymaking, regulation, program coordination and performance monitoring for housing and urban development concerns.

Its primary focus will be on affordable but decent and secure shelters.

The DHSUD will be headed by a secretary, three undersecretaries and three assistant secretaries.

Under it will be several bureaus, including those on environment, land use, urban planning and development, housing and real estate regulation, and homeowners association and community development.

It will have administrative supervision over the National Housing Authority, National Home Mortgage Finance Corp., Home Development Mutual Fund, and Social Housing Finance Corp.