KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- Under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) hopes to close the country's housing gap of 6.5 million by 2028, an official of the agency said. 

DSHUD 12 Regional Director Jennifer Bretaña said during the opening ceremonies of the 2nd SOX Housing Fair at the Veranza Mall in General Santos City on Saturday, October 22, that the celebration of the National Shelter Month this October is anchored on the dream of President Marcos and DHSUD, under Secretary Jose Acuzar, for a "Walang Pilipinong Walang Bahay sa Sariling Bayan." 

"Their target is to attain zero informal settler families in the six-year term of the president. Our president's target is to close the housing gap of 6.5 million," Director Bretaña said. 

"We will do this by constructing 1 million housing units every year. Starting next year, from 2023 to 2028, we will build 1 million houses per year for the low-income and informal settler families." 

Bretaña, however, emphasized that achieving this goal requires support not only from the government sector but also from the private sector including housing developers, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders. 

"We can only achieve this 'pangarap na walang Pilipinong walang bahay sa sariling bayan' through a whole-of-nation and a whole-of-society approach," she said. 

The three-day housing fair (from October 22 to 24) is participated by 16 real estate developers that have existing subdivision projects in SOCCSKSARGEN Region. 

DHSUD's key shelter agencies, namely:  Social Housing and Finance Corporation (SHFC), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG), National Housing Authority (NHA), Human Settlements Adjudication Commission (HSAC), and National Home  Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC), have also installed booths to entertain inquiries from interested individuals and provide guidance to those who are seeking to avail of their services. 

From October 17 to 19, DHSUD 12 gathered local government unit representatives for a capacity-building session on establishment of prototype urban spaces in key urban centers of SOCCSKSARGEN and BARMM.  Similar activities are also slated on October 24 and 27. 

DHSUD 12 has  scheduled the launching of the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program: Zero ISF 2028 on October 27. 

In 2021, DHSUD 12 initiated the conduct of housing and human settlements summit, which is now being replicated by all DHSUD regional offices. (PIA XII)