In a formal turnover ceremony held Monday at the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) central office, outgoing Secretary Jose Rizalino “Jerry” L. Acuzar officially passed the reins to newly appointed Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling, marking a pivotal moment in the department’s leadership.

Aliling, the former DHSUD Undersecretary and columnist-on-leave of the DAILY TRIBUNE, was recently minted as the new housing czar by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. following a major Cabinet reshuffle. The appointment was confirmed last Friday by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

Prior to his new role, Aliling served as CEO of Jose Aliling Construction Management and led major initiatives under DHSUD, including the flagship Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) housing program and the Pasig River “Bigyang Buhay Muli” revitalization project. He now succeeds Acuzar, founder of New San Jose Builders, Inc., who has been designated as Presidential Adviser for Pasig River Rehabilitation.

In his speech during the ceremony, Aliling signaled a strong start to his leadership, outlining his eight-point agenda and reiterating his commitment to transparency, efficiency, and anti-corruption.

“I missed DHSUD… I’m back,” Aliling began, setting a tone of familiarity and urgency. 

“After this speech, we will all get to work. I want to hit the ground running.”

He emphasized that the 4PH program will continue but with significant improvements. 

“We will expand it to include horizontal developments and prioritize the release of its implementing rules and regulations. These steps will significantly improve our housing numbers.”

Aliling also pledged to streamline DHSUD’s regulatory functions, form a technical working group with key stakeholders, and explore the establishment of one-stop shops across the country to expedite permit processing. 

He further vowed that the entire department would be fully digitalized before the end of President Marcos’ term.

“We aim to make DHSUD one of the most transparent and efficient government departments in the shortest possible time.”

Aliling also called for stronger collaboration among DHSUD’s attached agencies, including the National Housing Authority, Pag-IBIG Fund, Social Housing Finance Corporation, and the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation. He urged the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board to ensure speedy and fair resolution of pending cases.

To the private sector, Aliling extended an invitation for open dialogue. 

“DHSUD is open to all your suggestions. We will hold monthly consultations with developers to address issues quickly,” he said.

He, likewise, committed to protecting homebuyers and consumers, introducing mechanisms that will allow grievances to reach the Office of the Secretary directly. 

“We will act on them swiftly. We’ll also look into issues faced by homeowners’ associations and help resolve them without resorting to legal battles,” he added.

Aliling ended his speech with a strong stance on integrity: “When it comes to corruption, those who worked with me as Undersecretary know where I stand — zero tolerance.”

“To those saying there’s no hope for DHSUD… the fight isn’t over. There’s a second half. DHSUD will catch up.”