THE Chamber of Real
Estate and Builders Associations Inc. (Creba) has long been an advocate
of the Department of Housing Bill, which was filed in 1993 in Congress.
The
current Senate Committee on Housing, Urban Development and Resettlement
led by Sen. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has tirelessly deliberated upon the
bill where the voice and participation of the business sector has been
heard.
No less than the
Housing Czar, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, has openly acknowledged
that the creation of the Housing Department is necessary to address the
country’s long-term shelter needs. Yet, unfortunately, to date, the DHUD
Bill remains to be passed into law.
The
Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) has
confirmed the staggering housing backlog of over 3.7 million units.
Creba believes that addressing this problem should be a priority to
reflect the country’s status as a growing economy; hence the urgent need
to pass legislation that will benefit the underserved majority.
“This statistic cannot just be ignored,” said Charlie Gorayeb, Creba national president.
“Addressing
the problem should be a priority to reflect the country’s status as a
growing economy. [There is an] urgent need to pass legislation that will
benefit the underserved majority. Creba has long been an advocate of
the Department of Housing Bill, which we first championed in 1993. The
bill was filed by the same personalities such as Rep. Rodolfo G.
Valencia and Rep. Amado S. Bagatsing, who share our cause.
Unfortunately, it remains to be passed into law. Our representatives
from Congress have always approved the bill, but the Senate has
consistently deferred its approval,” Gorayeb explained.
Gorayeb
also shared that the latest version of the bill remains faithful to its
first draft in 1993 and, essentially, the contentious issue here
involves the status of the key shelter agencies (KSA) such as the
National Housing Authority (NHA), the Housing and Land Use Regulatory
Board (HLURB), the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), the Home
Guaranty Corp. (HGC) and the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp.
(NHMFC).
According
to the proposed housing bill, it states that the Act shall be known as
the “Department of Housing and Urban Development and the National Policy
shall be the policy of the State to promote social advancement,
economic growth and the well-being of the Filipino people by providing
the greatest possible number of homeless Filipino families adequate
opportunities for affordable and decent housing pursuant to the
Constitutional mandate, and ensuring the sound development of the
nation’s urban communities.
“The
purpose of creating the Department of Housing and Urban Development is:
a) To undertake a just and comprehensive solution to the perennial
housing problem; b) To ensure the optimum utilization of land resources
in improving the quality of life of the Filipino people; c) To stimulate
private homebuilding activity to levels that will promote and sustain
economic growth and development in terms of expanded opportunities for
employment, business and government revenues; d) To promote the orderly
development and growth of urban and urbanizing communities nationwide;
e) To ensure full coordination of various national activities which
impact on housing, land use and urban development; and f) To ensure that
the needs and interests of the nation’s communities and of the people
who live and work therein are accorded full consideration in the
formulation of national and local development plans.”
The
proposed bill also seeks to retain the corporate status of KSAs, their
corporate boards as well as the members of their board of trustees. They
will just be under the direct supervision and control of the Department
Secretary. Each agency has its own funds generated from within. The
government will not have to set aside budgets for them even if the
Department of Housing Bill is passed into law.
A
separate housing department can also focus on a mandate of addressing
issues on housing and environmental concerns. It can likewise prioritize
the formulation of an effective and comprehensive national land-use
plan, which is essential to the current rate of building construction
and urbanization that the country is experiencing.
“We
fervently hope that under the Aquino administration, both Houses can
finally pass this bill so that the housing backlog can be effectively
addressed and finally achieve the nation’s collective goal of providing
every Filipino family, not only with a roof over their heads, but a
decent home to call their own,” Gorayeb added.
Tet Andolong
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