OSHDP PUSHES MASS HOUSING AS ECONOMIC RECOVERY DRIVER

Adhering to its commitment to affordable housing stakeholders, Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP) chairman Marcelino Mendoza urges DHSUD and other key shelter agencies to continue elevating housing to the same level as the infrastructure sector, thereby scaling up actual housing production with increased funding support.

“NEDA Secretary Karl Chua has pointed out the construction spending of 5 percent of GDP as the ‘magic number’. Housing is an important part of that magic number that will likely drive an economic recovery,” Mendoza said.

The leading mass housing group emphasized housing development as an important recovery strategy that must receive economic stimulus from the government. In its discussion paper submitted to the legislators and relevant government agencies, OSHDP calls for the provision of stimulus funds to support the mass housing sector; lowering interest rates for institutional loans to developers; and incentivizing programs and projects that will encourage urban dwellers to return to their provinces thereby reducing population density in highly urbanized centers. The overall strategy must be coupled with sound and consistent policies of regulatory rollbacks, reliefs on end-user amortization payments, first-time homebuyer’s incentives, and rationalization of building design standards and fair market driven price ceilings.

Providing fiscal stimulus to housing achieves the State’s aim of allotting resources for programs that will provide sustained economic growth and support the country’s transition out of an economy adversely affected by the COVID-19.

OSHDP likewise pushes for housing initiatives through its 6-point private sector shelter agenda as part of its partnership commitments with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

These agenda include: (1) institutionalizing private sector participation under the new DHSUD by designating an active and permanent private sector representative to the National Human Settlements Board and all housing policy working committees; (2) further easing of doing business; (3) expanding housing finance and sustainable incentive program for homebuyers; (4) upholding fair access to land through a genuine national land use policy; (5) redefining affordable housing; and (6) promoting green building, resilient settlements, and post-pandemic approach in designing spaces.

OSHDP president Gino Olivares stressed the importance of housing especially in the time of a pandemic where shelter is consequential to public health and safety. He describes the ongoing housing crisis, which was officially recognized by Congress through House Resolution 1677, as a denial of a basic human right to Filipinos that also proves crucial in surviving the health crisis.

Olivares calls upon private stakeholders to join OSHDP and the government in bringing solutions to this crisis, and to advocate for policies that strengthen the housing sector.

To ensure viability of the affordable housing sector’s continued participation to resolving the overwhelming housing needs, OSHDP calls for the mandatory review of housing price ceilings. More than three years have passed since the last evaluation of the socialized housing price ceiling. It is even longer for the economic housing price ceiling, which was last adjusted in 2015.

“It is timely that these private sector initiatives be considered in the 20-year housing sector plan of the DHSUD,” Olivares added.