DHSUD creates TWGs to vet gov’t lands for housing

To fast-track the identification of government-owned land across the country particularly for housing, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar on Sunday said he had issued an order creating technical working groups (TWGs) to implement the provisions of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s Executive Order No. 34.

Through Department Order No. 2023-020 dated 25 November, Secretary Acuzar instructed the TWGs to lead the identification and vetting of government-owned lands for housing, human settlements, and urban development.

The TWGs consist of a pool of experts on environmental, land use, urban planning and development, public housing and settlements, and the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program from both the department's central and regional offices.

The TWG – Central Office will be headed concurrently by Undersecretary for Planning Henry Yap, while TWGs in the regional offices are to be headed by chiefs of their respective Environmental, Land Use, and Urban Planning and Development Divisions.

EO 34 declared 4PH as the flagship program of the government and mandated DHSUD to lead activities on idle land inventory.

"We've been discussing with some local government units and national government agencies on how we can achieve a comprehensive list of land assets we can use. This order should stimulate more activities on the ground as we aggressively implement the 4PH," Secretary Acuzar explained.

Based on the order, tasks of TWGs include validation of submitted land inventory, land suitability assessment, and coordination with national and local government agencies.

The order also granted authority to TWGs in recommending the approval of policies, guidelines, plans, projects, and activities that will support the land inventory, identification, and determination of process.

Acuzar further instructed the TWGs to submit a list of lands suitable for housing, human settlements, and urban development that are subject to acquisition and development.

EO 34 empowers the DHSUD to identify national and local government lands that are "suitable for housing and human settlements, including new townships and estates development, in coordination with concerned government agencies and local government units."