MANILA, Philippines — At least 6.5 million housing for informal settlers are needed nationwide, according to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
DHSUD Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario reported that the department already accomplished 1.07 million housing which is 89% out of the 1.2 million housing target for 2022.
Del Rosario said they are on track with the mission. However, he lamented that it is still far from the 6.5 million target units.
“Concerning the 6.5 million housing needed nationwide, medyo mababa ito (it is low) because that is only 20% of the total requirement,” he said.
Del Rosario said that from 2017 to 2021, the department’s budget is only ranging from about P4 billion to P5 billion, or only 10% of the recommended budget for their housing projects.
The official also added that the department needs P50 billion in order to address housing challenges in the country.
“Housing is capital intensive. Kailangan natin ng pondo (we need funds). We have been saying that we need P50 billion a year para makapagpagawa tayo and mai-transfer natin ang mga informal settler families to safer grounds (to build and transfer informal setter families to safer grounds),” he said.
Meanwhile, for the construction projects during the pandemic, Del Rosario reported that production decreased by 28% in 2020. However, he said the production this year has been improving. –AAC
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