Housing agency urged to ‘blacklist’ developers that abandon projects
CA MEETING: Commission on Appointments’ (CA) Committee on Human Settlements and Urban Development chairman Sen. Francis Tolentino presides over the online and physical meeting Wednesday, September 30, 2020 on the ad interim appointment of Sec. Eduardo del Rosario of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development. Senate PRIB photo / Albert Calvelo
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) should resort to the “blacklisting” of housing developers that abandon their subdivision projects, Senator Cynthia Villar said Wednesday.
During the confirmation hearing of DHSUD Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, several lawmakers raised concerns over the non-compliance of some developers in housing projects.
One of the lawmakers include Davao Oriental Rep. Joel Mayo Almario, who asked Del Rosario for a “clear policy” to address the problem.
“We want to see a clear policy of how the department can address developers which did not comply with requirements…I’d like to bring it up as a policy concern. I’m very sure that in other parts of the country, meron ding mga ganito (there are these instances as well),” Almario told Del Rosario.
“It’s not only the issue of development. It’s the problems that go along with the non-development at all of the open spaces. Very dark streets, what happens there? Nagkakaroon ng mga (There’s a possibility of) illegal activities. No drainage, what happens there? May (There’s threat of) dengue. Unpaved roads? Nagkakaroon ng putik. Konting ulan lang, ulan and accidents (There’s mud which can trigger accidents),” he added.
As a possible solution, Villar said the DHSUD could implement a “blacklisting system” that would prohibit non-compliant developers from taking on future projects.
“What the human settlements should do is to blacklist them so that they can never develop again if they abandon their subdivision. I think that’s the best penalty they can enforce on this mga masasamang (devious) developer, marami po sila (There’s a lot of them),” she said.
“Talagang sa lahat ng bayan natin maraming (In our towns, there are a lot of) abandoned subdivisions, undeveloped.Talagang nagloko yung developer, what the human settlements can do is not to allow them to do any more project in the future, blacklist,” she added.
Senator Francis Tolentino, who presided over the hearing, agreed with the suggestion made by Villar.
The DHUSD should start crafting a system that would classify developers based on their performance, according to Tolentino.
“It’s about time for the good secretary to craft an appropriate policy that would classify the developers. Kung merong gold, silver bronze tapos papunta na dun yung blacklisting,” he added.
In response, Del Rosario said: “We submit to the suggestion.”
“It is our office who will do it,” the secretary said.
