DHSUD to build 705,000 houses by 2028

THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said that it is seeking to complete about 705,000 housing provision by 2028, in order to complete its 1.1 million target.

“The target is 1.1 million by 2028, so there is still a balance of about 705,000,” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, who heads the Finance committee, told the plenary.

Senator Jose “Jinggoy” P. Estrada questioned the DHSUD over the backlog in government housing construction.

“The government aims to build 1 million houses per year, totaling 6 million units by the end of the term of President Marcos,” he added.

Mr. Gatchalian said that the agency had to revise its targets to 200,000 housing projects each year due to budgetary constraints.

“They had to revise their targets. I think 1 million is very ambitious, and they have to be realistic with the budgetary constraints,” he said. “One million per year seems like it was a very big challenge.”

He added that the agency has only completed 438,000 housing projects in the last three years.

Out of the completed housing projects, 314,000 were from indirect housing, and 113,000 were for housing provisions.

Mr. Gatchalian said that the delay was caused by the failed design of the 4PH or Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino program and lower budget allocation.

“In the past, the design wasn’t hitting the market that they needed the most, which created delays in the implementation,” he added. “I think the design is the top reason why it hasn’t reached 1 million per year.”

The 4PH program is the government’s flagship housing initiative to address the country’s housing backlog. — Adrian H. Halili