Legarda Wants Department of Housing to Address 4M Shelter Backlog

Senator Loren Legarda has proposed the creation of a Department of Housing and Urban Development (DHUD) to address the four million housing backlog, which affects about one-fourth of the Philippine population.

Legarda said that another challenge in the housing sector is the increasing urbanization rate which is projected to account for 70% of the population by 2015.

The proposed DHUD will take over the functions of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the planning and regulatory functions of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB).

“It will cover all housing and urban development concerns, primarily focusing on the access to and affordability of housing and related basic services vital to human needs,” Legarda said.

Among the provisions of the bill is to ensure that the availability of basic services and facilities, accessibility and proximity to job sites and other economic opportunities will be considered when developing housing and resettlement areas for the poor.

It also proposes to minimize the paperwork burden among homeowners and home buyers, and those covered by the government’s housing programs by eliminating unnecessary and duplicative information requirements.

“The Philippine housing sector is facing enormous challenges, including the issues of ever-increasing need for affordable housing provisions, limited access to housing finance, the need for more sustainable housing solutions, and more recently, the need to relocate families and households to safer grounds on account of the increasing threats of disasters,” she explained.

“Our goal is that we have a more coordinated and efficient national shelter program through the Department of Housing and Urban Development,” said Legarda.