CALOOCAN CITY, (PIA) --The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) has signified its support to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program during its recent assembly in Taguig City.

During the LCP’s 2nd Convergence Meeting at the Shangri-la in Bonifacio Global City, LCP National President Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and LCP Secretary General Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong expressed the league's full support to the program being spearheaded by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

Both Rama and Magalong also commended DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar.

"With Secretary Acuzar at the helm, I know we are in good hands," said Rama.

For his part, Magalong said "right now we are mobilizing everything—to make things happen… we will guarantee you, your first year—1 million housing units."

During the Convergence, Acuzar presented the salient features of the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program and discussed the role of local government units (LGUs) in addressing the 6.5 million housing backlog.

Acuzar stressed that LGUs play a vital role in the implementation and the success of the program - - from project conceptualization and planning to identification of beneficiaries and ensuring sustainability.

He said DHSUD and LGUs must work hand-in-hand to ensure success of the Program which aims to build 1 million housing units per year in the next six years.

“Kami po ay natutuwa at magkakaisaisa po tayo dito sa pagtapos ng backlog ng pabahay dito sa Pilipinas,” Acuzar told LCP.

“Together we will make a difference,” he added.

To date, DHSUD has already broken ground on several cities throughout the country to roll out the national housing program. Also, several local government units have already signed Memorandum of Understanding with DHSUD for their respective housing projects.

The DHSUD has also engaged government financial institutions and even private banks for the program which is touted to generate 1.7 million jobs and trigger 80 allied industries of the housing sector.

"We are not only addressing the housing gap but we also aim to create job opportunities and tap the economic pump-priming potentials of the real estate industry," Acuzar explained.

Apart from the DHSUD chief, the LCP also had business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan as keynote speaker focusing on Public-Private Partnership for LGUs, complimenting Secretary Acuzar’s presentation on President Marcos Jr.’s housing project.

Acuzar and Pangilinan received commendation from the local chief executives for their effort to help the Filipino community. (dshud/pia-ncr)