DHSUD, urban poor activate TWG to address shelter woes

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar on Sunday said the DSHUD and the Urban Poor Action Committee (UPAC) recently activated a technical working group (TWG) that will harmonize efforts in providing decent shelters to more Filipinos, particularly the underprivileged.

"The creation of this TWG was in response to the clamor of urban poor groups. It will primarily focus on issues that remain unresolved for decades now. I can see complexities on the concerns but by uniting and helping each other, we can find ways to appropriately address gaps in the sector," Acuzar said.

The TWG, with member representatives from DHSUD, UPAC, National Housing Authority, and Social Housing Finance Corporation, aims to craft measures for immediate implementation of programs that will make public housing more accessible to the underserviced sectors, particularly the urban poor.

"Ito po ay nagpapatunay na ang Marcos administration at ang DHSUD ay nakikinig sa lahat ng stakeholders, at inuuna po natin ang mga kababayan nating mahihirap," Acuzar explained.

Members of urban poor groups consist of informal settler families, residents living near danger zones, especially in river banks and coastal areas, and beneficiaries of government housing programs.

During its first meeting Thursday, led by Assistant Secretary Daryll Bryan Villanueva, the discussion identified the functions of each group to move toward effectively resolving various housing resettlement concerns.

The TWG also tackled UPAC's People's Plan which proposes a more participative and solution-based housing plan involving the beneficiaries from planning to program sustainability plans.

"We also see challenges on the implementation of previously issued presidential proclamations and NHA housing projects. But with this TWG and our working relationship with involved agencies, we can tell that concrete solutions are underway," Acuzar said.

Earlier this year, the housing czar engaged leaders and members of UPAC in an open dialogue to tackle concerns of different urban poor organizations and align their recommendations to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program.

UPAC, which represents 205,000 families from various groups headed by lead facilitator Alice Murphy, vowed to work closely with the government to properly implement any approved provisions under 4PH.