ALITAGTAG, Batangas -- Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario has earned praises from Batangas local government officials for making housing projects in their respective municipalities into a reality.

The housing czar spearheaded the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and groundbreaking event for land development of a proposed socialized housing project in Alitagtag early on Tuesday.

The housing complex, part of government efforts to assist local government units (LGUs) affected by the Taal Volcano eruption in January 2020, will benefit government employees, particularly teachers and uniformed personnel.

At the ceremony, Alitagtag Mayor Edilberto Ponggos praised the Department for its devotion in fulfilling the municipality’s dream shelter project. He likewise lauded DHSUD’s efforts in fast-tracking the completion of requirements for such an undertaking.

“Yung bilis ng kanilang (DHSUD) pag-ganap, ito yung kailangan natin sa Pilipinas. Ito yung mga lider na dapat ay manatili sapagkat bibihira ang ganitong magiging sistema, kaya Secretary Del Rosario, saludo po kami, ang buong bayan ng Alitagtag, sa inyo,” Mayor Ponggos said.

Secretary Del Rosario, in his message, emphasized that the Department is ready to assist LGUs in recovering from disasters and provide shelter and livelihood to their constituents.

“Yan ang gusto namin sa Department, yung tulong na nakikitang may ginagawa and to ensure na lahat ng projects matatapos,” the housing czar stressed.

He likewise announced assistance for additional common facilities like a training facility or livelihood center intended for the occupants of the housing project, construction of which comes three months following the finalization of a MOA for an evacuation center also in the municipality.

Also in attendance at the key event were Batangas 3rd District Rep. Maitet Collantes, who likewise expressed gratitude for DHSUD’s commitment in pushing for the settlement projects within her district.

She disclosed that Secretary Del Rosario was one of the few Cabinet members who had gone directly to the ground to assist LGUs following the Taal Volcano eruption in January last year

“Mabibilang po natin sa daliri ang mga secretary na katulad ni Secretary Del Rosario…kaya Secretary isa lamang po ang masasabi ko salamat, salamat, salamat,” Rep. Collantes said.

Later in the day, Secretary Del Rosario also led a MOA-signing and groundbreaking for land development of a government center and settlement site in Mataasnakahoy, wherein he was welcomed by Mayor Janet Ilagan and Vice Mayor Jay Ilagan.

In her welcome speech, Mayor Ilagan described the housing czar as “Mr. Change” for his commitment in pushing for development projects in the municipality.

“Napakaganda po ng ibinigay nila sa ating evacuation center at ngayon naman po ay hindi magkakaroon ng katuparan ang ating pabahay kung walang land development assistance dito sa Brgy. San Sebastian, kaya Secretary Del Rosario, maraming salamat po at bahagi po kayo ng bayan naming Mataasnakahoy,” the local chief executive said.

According to Secretary Del Rosario, it is the instruction of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to help LGUs directly impacted by the volcanic eruption last year.

“Kami po (sa DHSUD) ay taus-pusong bumababa para magkaroon tayo ng sinasabi nating ‘make a difference into the lives of the Filipino people,’ lalong-lalo na yung mga nangangailangan, yung andyan sa ibaba. Kapag nakikita po natin ang kasiyahan ng mga LGU leaders at kanilang mga constituents, kami po ay talagang natutuwa dahil sa pagbaba naming, nakikita naming ang inyong katuwaan sa tulong na ibinibigay ng national government,” the housing czar stressed.

“That is my instruction to all our regional offices – to coordinate with the LGUs so that both of them will plan and directly find out what are the projects that need immediate implementation that the Department can provide and within the budget that we are given,” he noted.

Earlier, the officials inspected the ongoing construction of an evacuation center for Mataasnakahoy, a MOA for which was signed in July this year.

Also participating in the event were former DHSUD Assistant Secretary Leira Buan and DHSUD Regional Office 4A Director Jann Roby Otero, who had actively been coordinating with the LGUs regarding the development of the said projects. (DHSUD)