The NEDA has already formed cluster committees which will address the housing backlogs. #senatepanelonSDG

Senator Francis Tolentino has asked the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) to institutionalize a monitoring system on the country’s housing program to help meet the Philippines’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of one home per household.

Tolentino made the suggestion during the first meeting of the newly-created Senate SDG committee on Friday.

The senator expressed fears that the housing backlog of 5.67 million homes would increase to 20 million by 2040. With the monitoring system, according to Tolentino, government agencies would be informed if they are behind the targets so it can be addressed.

“NEDA, being in the forefront of this endeavor, should provide some innovative and creative advice on how that particular agency could meet their target,” Tolentino pointed out adding that there should also be measures that will provide details on how the Executive Department push various agencies to reach the goals.

Meanwhile, the NEDA has already formed cluster committees which will address the housing backlogs.

“In addressing the backlog, we do have the cluster committees already addressing where the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD) is already a member agency in the planning committee. We’ve called the attention already on the same plane where you are coming from and they are supposed to prepare their development plan I think,” NEDA Social Development Staff MaryAnne Darauay told the SDG committee.

Darauay also said NEDA is monitoring the progress of different agencies to prepare for the midterm update on the Philippine Development Plan (PDP).

“We can include in our systems how we are going to double-check the accomplishment of other agencies although the system of the government is still through the budget process,” she said.

Darauay said they will note Tolentino’s recommendation to keep in track with the progress on the goals set in the PDP.

NEDA is currently working on the AmBisyon Natin 2040 which represents the collective long-term vision and aspirations of the Filipino people for themselves and for the country in the next 25 years.

This will detail the quality of life that people want to live, and how the country will be by 2040 and was defined by NEDA as an anchor for development planning across at least four administrations.