MANILA, Philippines — The Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations Inc. (CREBA) has asked the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) how they can build over 2,000 housing units per day, given the numerous constraints within the bureau’s management.
In a forum, the real estate group highlighted the bureau’s restrictive policies that tend to target the private sector in the housing industry. They argued that these policies could prevent developers from providing quality housing to the public, given the housing backlog in the country.
“Do you think NHA (National Housing Authority) can produce 2,000 units a day? Eh kung sa ngayon lang eh, may problema na tayo, at inalis mo ang private sector participation, how best can you really achieve that?” CREBA President Noel Toti Cariño said during the panel discussion.
Cariño questioned the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) regarding the issues surrounding the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing Program (4PH). This flagship housing initiative of the Marcos administration aims to eliminate the 6.5 million housing backlog by the end of his term.
This would require the establishment of over one million housing units annually by the housing bureau.
However, the DHSUD later revised its target, reducing it by 3.2 million, or at least 500,000 housing units per year.
Cariño and other developers participating in the CREBA panel discussion stated that, even with the reduced target, the government would still struggle to build over 2,000 housing units per day.
“No one has done that for the past many, many years, anyone in housing,” Hon. Rodolfo Valencia said.
“Ang hirap gawin nun, 1 million [housing units] a year, 2,700 units a day, unless the private sector and the government sector all the LGUs will join forces and participate in producing this housing,” Valencia added.
According to DHSUD Director IV Randy Halasan, the primary reason for the difficulties in meeting these targets is related to financing.
During a panel meeting with CREBA, Halasan stated that financing is the main issue hindering the housing bureau’s ability to achieve its national housing targets.
“‘Yan talaga ang unang una na problem… in the housing sector, hindi po umabot ng 5 percent ang aming budget. Imagine that, hindi po umabot ng 5 percent to implement housing in the country,” Halasan said.
While the DHSUD has acknowledged the challenges within the housing sector, it also emphasized the importance of the private sector in providing inclusive housing programs for marginalized communities in partnership with the national government.
“Yes there are so many challenges in the private sector, but because of empowering not only DHSUD, and because of the inclusivity of the private sectors, of course the government, lahat po ng sektor ina-acknowledge po namin for us to have a sustainable housing program for the marginalized sector,” Halasan said.
