PBBM's 'Pambansang Pabahay' inclusivity highlighted
One of man's basic needs is shelter. They would like to have a roof over their heads to provide them sanctuary from the outside.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development or DHSUD is the primary government agency responsible for the management of housing, human settlement and urban development. As it celebrates its 4th anniversary, it looks back to how far it has gone and how much it has accomplished in its four years of existence.
History
Before the DHSUD was created, there was the Ministry of Human Settlements (MHS) during the first Marcos administration.
If there was one thing the MHS was famous for, it was the construction of housing projects known as Bagong Lipunan Improvement Sights and Services (BLISS), which were located all over the country.
After the EDSA Revolution of 1986, the MHS was abolished due to its association with the Marcos regime. Since that time, meeting the housing needs of the Filipino people was carried out mainly by the National Housing Authority, which was founded in 1975. There was also a Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, which was later reorganized as the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission.
Seeing the need to streamline or unify offices with the same function, the DHSUD was created on Feb. 14, 2019 by virtue of Republic Act (RA) 11201.
Mission
According to its website, the DHSUD is the sole and main planning and policy-making, regulatory, program coordination, and performance monitoring entity for all housing, human settlement and urban development concerns, primarily focusing on the access to and affordability of basic human needs.
RA 11201 consolidated the functions of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council to become DHSUD, except for adjudication, which is now handled by its attached agency, the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission.
The DHSUD also exercises oversight functions on its attached agencies or key shelter agencies – (1) National Housing Authority, which acts as the country's primary shelter production arm; (2) Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund, which focuses on national savings program and affordable shelter financing for Filipino workers; (3) Social Housing Finance Corp., which undertakes social housing programs catering to the formal and informal settlers belonging to the low-income bracket; and (4) National Home Mortgage Finance Corp., which ensures the availability of affordable housing loans to finance homebuyers through secondary market for home mortgages.
It has three bureaus that primarily perform policy development, regulatory functions and advisory roles – (1) Environmental, Land Use and Urban Planning and Development Bureau, which performs human settlements planning-related functions including formulation of planning guidelines, national urban development policies and programs, technical assistance to relevant stakeholders and land use monitoring; (2) Housing and Real Estate Development Regulation Bureau, which regulates the development of subdivision and condominium and other real estate projects, including the practice of real estate service by brokers and salespersons, through the formulation, promulgation and imposition of administrative fines and penalties, pursuant to Presidential Decree 957 and Batas Pambansa 220; and (3) Homeowners Association and Community Development Bureau, that formulates policies and programs to be implemented by the regional offices, monitors proper implementation of the approved policies and programs, and capacitates regional offices in empowering the HOAs within their respective jurisdictions.
The DHSUD's operations are complemented by one technical service, the Public Housing and Human Settlements Service, and seven support services. It also has 16 regional offices strategically located around the country to cater to the needs in the localities.
Guided by dynamism, honesty, service excellence, unity of purpose and dedication, the DHSUD will move forward toward its vision of adequate and affordable housing, inclusive human settlements and well-planned communities for every Filipino family.
Accomplishments
In its four years of existence, the DHSUD has accomplished much for the housing sector.
The department was able to make a huge impact in the housing industry despite dealing with some birth pains and amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite the pandemic and the threat it posed, it was able to carry out pro-active measures to keep the sector afloat.
The DHSUD posted a number of significant feats aimed at empowering the housing and urban development sector.
One of its most significant accomplishments is the crafting and adoption of the of the 2040 National Housing and Urban Development Sector Plan, which consolidates ongoing and proposed strategies, plans and programs of the Department, its key shelter agencies (KSAs) and other stakeholders in providing Filipino families, especially the underprivileged, access to decent, safe, sustainable and affordable homes.
At the height of the pandemic, DHSUD enforced moratoriums of loan payments to KSAs as part of measures to ease public burden. It likewise ensured the continuity of housing projects, allowing hundreds of thousands of workers in the sector continue their livelihood.
But perhaps DHSUD's most notable legacy is its annual housing production pegged at 197,886 — the highest among previous administrations since 1975. Not only that, all housing units produced during the Duterte administration were of high standards.
Meanwhile, as of end-2021, more than 1.08 million housing units and lots were produced and financed, accounting for 86 percent of the 1.26-million units targeted under the Philippine Development Plan 2016-2022.
The department also assisted 233 local government units in updating and ratifying their Comprehensive Land Use Plans and Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plans.
It likewise crafted real estate development policies and issued directives to cushion the impact of the pandemic, issued 1,437 Licenses to Sell and Certificates of Registration to 36,624 dealers, brokers and salespersons registered with the Department in the last two years.
The DHSUD also implemented various measures to further professionalize the housing industry. And currently, it is serving 25,621 registered homeowners associations nationwide. Revising the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Magna Carta for HOAs was likewise among the Department's priorities following its creation.
With regards to advancing its overall operationalization, management has filled up 65.46 percent of its workforce, crafted and submitted for funding its Information Systems Strategic Plan and completed the establishment of its 16 regional offices, each fully capable of carrying out DHSUD's housing programs and policies.
The department likewise succeeded in strengthening partnerships with LGUs (local government units) and private developers through finalization of various memorandums of agreement, some of which paved the way for the construction of several evacuation centers in line with government efforts to boosting the country's disaster preparedness.
"We must continuously innovate to ensure that our vision to be a 'strong institution and catalyst for the provision of adequate and affordable housing, inclusive human settlements and well-planned communities for every Filipino family' comes to light," then-Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario said.
By the time the Duterte administration came to an end, so was the term of Del Rosario. He is more than confident that all DHSUD's hard work will not go to waste and will be continued by the incoming leadership.
As he turned over the reins of authority to his successor, Jose Rizalino "Jerry" Acuzar, Del Rosario also believes the housing sector remains in good hands, especially with the outstanding officials of DHSUD working tirelessly in achieving their respective duties.
"Your mind and your heart must focus on the welfare of the Filipino families who do not have a house of their own," Del Rosario said to Acuzar.
New leadership, same direction
Acuzar picked up where Del Rosario left off by continuing the department's initiatives under his term, which coincides with the assumption of office of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr.
On urban development, three Comprehensive Land Use Plans and eight Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plans were approved, and 25,021 registered homeowners' associations are being monitored. DHSUD has also led activities toward the implementation of the Philippine New Urban Agenda.
The National Human Settlements Board has also allowed another year of the rental extension (January-December 2023) under the same terms in 2022. The allowable maximum increase in rent on any residential unit is capped relative to its prevailing rental value.
Pag-IBIG Fund has reported 46,433 housing units (38% increase from last year) under end-user financing, amounting to P52.4 billion in loan value (105% increase from last year). From this, 8,444 are socialized housing units with a loan value of P3.8 billion.
The National Home Mortgage Finance Corp., meanwhile, has secured the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission on their Shelter Asset-Backed Securities, which is expected to encourage developers' participation for the Pambansang Pabahay.
For the Emergency Housing Assistance Program, the National Housing Authority NHA) has assisted 33,637 beneficiaries, with a total amount of P349 million for the North Luzon Earthquake, Typhoon Odette (Regions 4-B and 7), Typhoon Ursula and other calamities. With the projects that started from the previous administration, NHA has awarded 30,000 Certificate of Eligibility for Lot Award and has completed 7,300 new housing construction.
The Social Housing Finance Corp., on the other hand, has assisted 706 informal settler families through community-driven and multi-stakeholder shelter financing programs amounting to P438 million loans released for four Community Mortgage Program projects. It has also turned over 100 units to Intramuros Community Homeowners Association in partnership with its administration.
Source: https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/02/14/supplements/pbbms-pambansang-pabahay-inclusivity-highlighted/1878636?fbclid=IwAR2aht-NQtpEm8SKm9aJ_T1grtPtkPqE7WOWC2Fs2386hQ22KItdvggsR00
Tags: Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Lipunan Improvement Sights and Services Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council
