The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development has started coordinating with local executives in Metro Manila to address the more than 6.5 million housing backlogs in the country.
Housing czar Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said seven mayors have already manifested support to the DHSUD in aiding informal settler families in the National Capital Region.
The cities of Marikina, Muntinlupa, Pasig, Malabon, Caloocan, San Juan, and Pasay are known to host huge numbers of ISFs. Nationwide, there are around 3.7 million ISFs, DHSUD said.
Of the number, 500,000 of the ISFs are in Metro Manila living in slums or near railways, waterways, esteros and other high-risk areas.
Acuzar cited the crucial roles of LGUs with the national government in "gradually addressing issues of informal settlers" nationwide.
He said improving the lives of marginalized ISFs through the housing sector program can be one of the country's "economic pump-priming potentials."
"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.
