Senate ratifies bill consolidating housing agencies under a human settlements dep’t

The Senate on Monday ratified the reconciled version of a bill seeking to consolidate all housing agencies into a new Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, chairman of the committee on urban planning, housing, and resettlement, said that most of the provisions adopted by the bicameral conference committee were from the Senate version of the bill.

He said that the DHSUD would be the sole and main planning and policy-making, regulatory, program coordination, and performance monitoring entity for all housing and urban development concerns, and would primarily be focused on the access to and affordability of decent, and secure shelter.

“Ang DHSUD ang magiging pangunahing sangay ng ating gobyerno na magbabalangkas ng mga polisiya at regulasyon, magpapatupad at magmomonitor ng mga proyektong pabahay, magtitiyak na ang mga housing unit ay abot-kaya, at responsible sa iba pang usapin na may kinalaman sa housing program, human settlements, at urban development,” he said in a speech after the ratification.

Ejercito said the bill would streamline the bureaucracy and compel shelter agencies to “work together more harmoniously and connect their plans and programs.”

“Sa pagsasama-sama ng mga kasalukuyang ahensya ng gobyerno na may kinalaman sa pabahay gaya ng Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, National Housing Authority, National Home Mortgage and Finance Corporation, Socialized Housing and Finance Corporation at ang Home Development Mutual Fund sa DSHUD, matitiyak natin ngayon ang mas mabisang istratehiya at focused na direksiyon upang matugunan ang malaking pangangailangan at kakulangan sa housing units na maaaring umabot sa mahigit anim na milyon pagsapit ng 2022,” he said.

In 2018 alone, there was a need for more than two million housing units. The figure is projected to balloon to 6,571,387 by the end of 2022.

Under the bill, the department would be composed of the Office of the Secretary and the Bureaus of Policy Development, Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation; Environmental, Land Use, and Urban Planning and Development; Housing and Real Estate Development Regulation; and Homeowners Association and Community Development.

The DHSUD is expected to create a roadmap for housing and urban development, lead its implementation, and follow through each and every project with clear functions, policies, budget and financing.

"Walang mangyayaring 'kanya-kanya' ng programa," said Ejercito.

The reconciled bill will be sent to President Rodrigo Duterte for either his signature or veto. If the President does not act on the bill, it will automatically become a law after 15 days. — BM, GMA News