Metro execs back PBBM housing plans
SEVERAL local chief executives in Metro Manila have thrown their support to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s housing programs designed to address the current housing backlog of more than 6.5 million, including the informal settler families (ISFs).
This, after Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar has actively engaged the local officials in a series of dialogues to discuss the program after he received the go signal from the President.
“We have the all-out support of our President to finally realize the dream of every Filipino family to have a decent, safe and sustainable shelter of their own. Now is the time, let us unite and grab the opportunity” Secretary Acuzar said.
So far, the DHSUD chief has met with Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro, Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, Caloocan City Mayor Dale Malapitan, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora and Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano.
The program being pushed by DHSUD has received positive response from the local chief executives.
Secretary Acuzar stressed the importance of harnessing the support of Metro Manila local government units, and putting them onboard during this stage to ensure the success of the housing priority programs citing that majority of the 3.7 million ISFs in the country are present in the capital region.
Based on the current DHSUD data, around 500,000 ISFs are in the National Capital Region living in poor conditions in slums, railways, waterways, esteros and other high-risk areas.
“We see the role of LGUs as one of the key components to gradually address or even put an end to the challenges we are facing in the housing sector. They are our allies in development,” Secretary Acuzar said.
During the meetings with LGU officials, the housing chief discussed new schemes favorable to both LGUs and target beneficiaries which offer sustainability of the government housing program and tapping the housing sector’s economic pump-priming potentials.
The Secretary also shared his plan on how to loop in private developers, and financial institutions in a more participative and inclusive approaches for faster housing production.
The DHSUD chief will be meeting with other NCR officials in the coming days to ensure the smooth roll out of DHSUD housing programs.
“The housing sector in the country needs aggressive efforts. Therefore, we have to involve every stakeholder that can take part in this advocacy of the new administration that is to provide shelter to millions of Filipinos,” he said.
