DHSUD, various groups hold talks on housing issues

THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said it has engaged in an open dialogue with various cause-oriented groups on housing issues.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said the agency and the groups discussed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program.

The agency said leaders and representatives from various cause-oriented groups namely Renato Reyes Jr. of BAYAN, Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna, Estrelita Bagasbas of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay), Mary Joy Guevarra of Gabriela, Jaime Valdez of Anak Pawis, Maria Fe Hullipaz of Samahang Maralita sa Temporary Housing-tondo Chapter, and Andrea Trinidad of Urban Poor Coordinating Council-national Capital Region attended the meeting at the DHSUD Central Office last Thursday.

Acuzar presented the administration’s plan to address the 6.5-million housing need in the country through the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program which aims to build 1 million housing units per year or 6 million housing units in six years.

DHSUD noted that the groups shared their first-hand experience of relocating to government housing projects and provided insights for consideration in program implementation. Meanwhile, Kadamay-southern Tagalog requested for a separate meeting to further discuss their interest to participate in the flagship housing program, which Acuzar approved.

In a separate statement published on its Facebook page on Thursday, Kadamay said it is expecting DHSUD to fulfill its promise of providing affordable and inclusive housing and to fulfill its objective of “zero informal settler families.”

The group also said it is expecting that DHSUD will base the monthly housing fees on a person’s financial capacity, income and take-home pay. With this, Kadamay echoed Acuzar’s statement, which he said in Filipino ,“housing is useless if it’s not affordable.”

“This dialogue is a testament of our administration’ s flag ship housing program’ s inclusivity. We, at DHSUD, recognize and value each sector of the economy. When we conceptualized the program, we had everyone in mind. You have my word—every Filipino can avail of this program,” Acuzar said in a statement.

With the “growing” interest in the housing program, the housing secretary reiterated their openness to dialogue with all who wish to participate.

“DHSUD remains open to everyone who wants to join the Pambansang Pabahay Program,” Acuzar added.