JV dismayed by DHSUD outlay cut
Ejercito recalled that during the drafting of the DHSUD law, the country’s housing backlog was only two million, but it has since ballooned to more than six million
Daily TribuneEjercito recalled that during the drafting of the DHSUD law, the country’s housing backlog was only two million, but it has since ballooned to more than six million
Sen. JV Ejercito
Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito yesterday expressed disappointment over what he described as the meager allocation of P5.4 billion for the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development for 2024.
Ejercito, the author of Republic Act 11201 that created the DHSUD, called for the prioritization of the government's housing program to address the country's backlog of dwellings.
"It's really sad that it (DHSUD) is receiving a measly budget of P5.4 billion," said Ejercito during the Senate deliberations on the department's proposed budget under the 2024 National Expenditure Program.
"Listening earlier, when it's P1 billion or P2 billion, they can only do about 2,000 (housing) units considering the (construction) costs right now and how it goes up quickly," the senator said.
He said he considers housing and the creation of the DHSUD his "baby," so he must guard its implementation and budgeting.
Ejercito recalled that during the drafting of the DHSUD law, the country's housing backlog was only two million, but it has since ballooned to more than six million.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar had told the Senate that they were doing what they could to maximize the budget allocated to them through the "innovative" financing scheme that the government's "Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino" or 4PH Program had adopted.
He pointed out that the 4PH was also tapping the private sector to actively participate in the program.
"In previous strategies, P36 billion could only generate 36,000 units. With the new program, P36 billion can produce one million houses," he said, referring to the partnership that the 4PH offers to the private sector as developers and contractors.
The P36 billion is the intended interest support for one million housing units.
In response, Ejercito backed the 4PH vision of bridging the country's housing gap with Secretary Acuzar at the helm.
"Like I said before, I think we need somebody like Secretary Acuzar who thinks outside the box because if we'll just follow the old system, the previous program, the backlog just keeps getting bigger," Ejercito said.
The DHSUD had proposed a budget of P116 billion for fiscal year 2024, but the NEP submitted by the Department of Budget and Management reflected only P5.4 billion. The DBM is proposing to increase the budget to P13.86 billion.
"Be rest assured that we will definitely support (the increase), and that's our target really," Ejercito said.