The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has highlighted the significant role of local government units (LGUs) for the successful implementation of the administration's program to address the country’s housing backlog and resettle informal settler families (ISFs) to safer grounds.
During the two-day visit of DHSUD Secretary Jose Acuzar to the Visayas Region, he and officials of the agency went to key cities and met with local chief executives.
“Major cities and provinces in Visayas recorded a significant number of informal settler families (ISFs) and people living in calamity-prone areas. So it is a must to also prioritize the Visayas group of islands,” he said.
According to the DHSUD, the administration's priority is addressing the over 6.5 million housing backlog, including the estimated 3.7 million ISFs throughout the country.
Acuzar said that the majority of local leaders committed to supporting the Marcos administration's housing blueprint and expressed their willingness to allot land resources for the development of new project sites, such as converting esteros into parks and walkways to aid in the restoration and rehabilitation of waterways.
He expressed bullishness that the LGUs will help in alleviating the lives of ISFs.
“I am confident on the help of our LGUs to develop and transform these informal settlements into prime residential and world-class developments for the benefit of our countrymen especially those in the low-income bracket,” he said.
Some of the local executives met by the DHSUD secretary were Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas, and Iloilo Governor Art Defensor.