Housing chief finally secures CA nod

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Eduardo Drueco del Rosario during the hearing of the Commission on Appointments’ (CA) Committee on Human Settlements and Urban Development. (Albert Calvelo/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — The powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) finally approved the ad interim appointment of Housing Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario, two months since he first faced a panel of the body.

The CA confirmed Del Rosario’s ad interim appointment as secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) in a plenary session on Thursday.

Del Rosario had to first go through the CA’s Committee on Human Settlements and Urban Development earlier in the day. In total, the housing chief had to face the panel four times before his was confirmed.

His confirmation hearing was suspended three times due to several reasons, including lack of material time to accommodate the questions of lawmakers to the secretary.

During the committee meeting, Senator Panfilo Lacson asked Del Rosario regarding the DHUSD’s action plan for resettlement of families affected by the recent typhoons.

Del Rosario said the agency has now identified locations for the resettlement of the families.

The next step would be the submission of requirements to the Office of the President for funding, according to the housing chief.

Del Rosario was also asked about the pledged assistance of other countries for the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City.

Del Rosario heads the government’s Task Force Bangon Marawi.

In response, Del Rosario said that donations pledged by other counties are usually channeled through non-governmental groups (NGOs) which will then undertake programs.

“The NGO will coordinate with [local government units] and the task-force. They inform us of the projects they have and most of these projects are mainly capacity building,” he explained.

EDV