THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the Urban Poor Action Committee (UPAC) recently activated a technical working group (TWG) that will harmonize efforts in providing decent shelters to more Filipinos, particularly the underprivileged.

The TWG, with member-representatives from DHSUD, UPAC, National Housing Authority and Social Housing Finance Corporation, aims to craft measures for immediate implementation of programs that will make public housing more accessible to the underserved sectors, particularly the urban poor.

“The creation of this TWG was in response to the clamor of urban poor groups. It will primarily focus on issues that remain unresolved for decades now. I can see complexities in the concerns but by uniting and helping each other, we can find ways to appropriately address gaps in the sector,” DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said in a statement.

“Ito po ay nagpapatunay na ang Marcos administration at ang DHSUD ay nakikinig sa lahat ng stakeholders, at inuuna po natin ang mga kababayan nating mahihirap,” he added.

Members of urban poor groups consist of informal settler families, residents living near danger zones especially in river banks and coastal areas, and beneficiaries of government housing programs.

During its first meeting Thursday, led by Assistant Secretary Daryll Bryan Villanueva, the discussion identified functions of each group to move toward effectively resolving various housing resettlement concerns.

The TWG also tackled UPAC’s People’s Plan which proposes a more participative and solution-based housing plan involving the beneficiaries from planning to program sustainability plans.

Earlier this year, the housing czar engaged leaders and members of UPAC in an open dialogue to tackle concerns of different urban poor organizations and align their recommendations to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ‘s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jun I. Legaspi