The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has provided 1.07 million houses or 84% of the targeted 1.2 million housing for informal settler families.
“As of today, ang accomplishment po natin ay 84% or 1.07 million of the total target of 1.2 million. We are on track sa ating misyon,” DHSUD Sec. Eduardo del Rosario said during the Laging Handa public briefing on Thursday (Sept. 9).
“Ang Philippine Development Plan ay nagbigay ng kanilang anunsyo na ang Department of Housing ay kailangan maka-account ng 1.2 million na pabahay hanggang 2022. So, with that 1.2 million target, ‘yon ang naging misyon ng DHSUD para ma-accomplish hanggang 2022,” del Rosario said.
On the issue of the housing crisis in the country, he said the DHSUD needs a budget of P50 billion a year to help informal settler families.
However, the department is given a budget of only P4 billion to P5 billion.
“Housing is capital intensive. Kailangan natin ng pondo. We have been saying that we need P50 billion a year para makapagpagawa tayo and mai-transfer natin ang mga informal settler families to safer grounds,” he said.
“Unfortunately, from 2017 to 2021, ang budget po ng DHSUD ay ranging from about P4 billion to P5 billion only. So we are only getting 10% of what we need. Nagkakaroon tayo ng challenge kung paano natin ma-address ang ating pangangailangan when we are saying we need P50 billion and we are only given P4 billion to P5 billion a year,” he added.
Meanwhile, del Rosario said the region in the Philippines that needs more housing units is Region 4-A.
“The number one in the country that would require more housing units at malakas ang activity sa housing construction ay ang Region 4-A,” he said.
“Dito sa Calabarzon, nagtulong-tulong ang gobyerno, National Housing Authority, at ang private sector na nagpapagawa ng mga housing units. Ang private sector ay malaki ang naitutulong.” he added. – PG – jlo