The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is eyeing to build at least one million housing units as part of its long-term goal to address the over 6.5 million housing backlogs across the country.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said the goal is to provide affordable shelters that are decent and sustainable and effective in uplifting the lives of informal settler families (ISFs) and those in the low-income bracket by 2028, or the end of the term of office of President "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr.
The plan was highlighted during the kickoff of this year’s National Shelter Month (NSM) on Monday, Oct. 3.
"Through this program, the DHSUD aims to build one million housing units every year or a total of six million housing units within the six years of the current administration," said Acuzar.
“This year’s celebration accurately encapsulates the goal of the DHSUD to provide affordable yet decent and sustainable shelters that will give Filipino families a sense of security and certitude. Hopefully, this goal will be reached by the end of the current administration,”he added.
The official rollout of the program has started in September with groundbreaking ceremonies in key cities and municipalities in the country, including Quezon City, Bacolod City, Roxas City, Iloilo City and Mariveles, Bataan.
The DHSUD are now working to sign more agreement signing and groundbreaking ceremonies for the housing programs.
Aside from private housing companies, the DHSUD is also working with the local government units for the building of more homes for ISFs and those in the low-income bracket. In urban areas, Acuzar earlier vowed to support on-site, in-city housing programs.