QUEZON CITY (PIA) – The Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD) chief, Secretary Jose Acuzar met with some local chief executives of Metro Manila on Friday for a consultative discussion to address housing backlogs and provide affordable shelter to their constituents, particularly the informal settler families (ISFs).

According to Acuzar, he presented strategies to Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto and Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo; Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval and Vice Mayor Ninong Dela Cruz; and Caloocan City Mayor Dale Malapitan in maximizing the use of government land in the metro for public housing purposes.

The DHSUD chief added that he urged the LGU officials to take active part in pursuing housing projects for the ISFs.

“We see the role of LGUs as one of the key components to gradually address or even put an end to the challenges we are facing in the housing sector. They are our allies in development,” Acuzar said.

The housing chief discussed new schemes favorable to both LGUs and target beneficiaries which offers sustainability of the government housing program.

The Secretary also shared his plan on how to loop in private developers, and financial institutions in a more participative and inclusive approaches for faster housing production.

“The housing sector in the country needs aggressive efforts. Therefore, we have to involve every stakeholder that can take part in this advocacy of the new administration – that is to provide shelter to millions of Filipinos,” he said.

Acuzar plans to meet with more local chief executives across the country to tackle DHSUD’s planned human settlement projects in some identified areas to benefit ISFs and those living in danger zones.

“So far we have the commitment of LGUs we recently met. I do hope that more governors, mayors and lawmakers will support DHSUD’s vision for the Filipino people,” he stressed.

The DHSUD chief earlier bared his plans to address the present housing backlog of more than 6.5 million units during a meeting with the Senate Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Resettlement on Wednesday (Aug. 17). (PIA-NCR)