Gov’t finds 16,000 hectares for housing

A Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) official on Wednesday said the government has identified about 16,000 hectares of government land for President Marcos’ planned socialized housing program. DHSUD spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Avelino Tolentino III said at the Laging Handa public briefing that the land was identified following a survey conducted with local government units. The DHSUD, he added, has already conducted groundbreaking rites for housing projects in nine areas of country, among them Quezon City, Marikina City, Carmona in Cavite, Bacolod City, Iligan City and Tanauan City. Tolentino also said at least 18 local government units have also signed memoranda of understanding with the DHSUD to committing not only idle public lands to the President’s housing program, but also to identify priority beneficiaries and to ensure that the housing units will be in condition. The President earlier said he would be signing an executive order reserving idle government land for housing projects following his announced goal of constructing 6 million housing units by the end of his term in 2028.