The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) advised those interested to avail of the government's housing program to inquire only from proper agencies in an apparent bid to deny scammers and other individuals or groups from taking advantage of the project for money-making modus.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said there are already existing fixer-free measures on how to avail the housing program.
"Let me stress that no private individuals or groups are authorized to act on behalf of DHSUD with regard to national housing. We are ready to take appropriate action to any report of such unscrupulous act," said Acuzar.
Aside from the DHSUD, he said those interested may inquire details about the program only from local government units (LGUs) and the department's key shelter agencies, namely, the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund, the Social Housing Finance Corporation, the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation and the National Housing Authority.
The DHSUD has so far signed 49 Memoranda of Understanding with various LGUs from all over the country since September last year. Of these, 12 had already broken ground.
Secretary Acuzar has expressed optimism that the program will go full blast this year as he expects commencement of actual construction within the first semester of 2023.
Under the program, the DHSUD is tasked to build one million houses annually in the next six years to address the country’s housing backlog pegged at more than 6.5 million units.