Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling has vowed to immediately strengthen the agency’s regulatory functions over real estate developers, practitioners, and homeowners associations.

Aliling said that while DHSUD continues to implement President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, it must also put equal focus on its role as a regulatory body to create broader impact in the housing sector.

“Seryoso po tayo dito. Ang naging problema po ng DHSUD nitong nakaraang tatlong taon naka focus lang tayo sa 4PH. Ang DHSUD ay isang regulatory body, pinagsisilbihan natin ang mga unit buyers, mga developers at other stakeholders,” Aliling said.

(We are serious about this. The problem with DHSUD over the past three years is that we’ve been focused solely on the 4PH. But DHSUD is a regulatory body — we serve unit buyers, developers, and other stakeholders.)

“So, hahabulin natin itong mga bagay na ito at bibigyan natin ng angkop na pansin,” he added.

(So, we will catch up on these matters and give them the proper attention they deserve.)

DHSUD, under Republic Act No. 11201, serves as the primary government agency tasked with overseeing housing, human settlements, and urban development in the country.

The agency’s functions include the formulation and enforcement of standards over subdivisions, condominiums, and similar developments, as well as the authority to impose fines and sanctions. DHSUD also regulates and supervises homeowners’ associations, including the resolution of conflicts in accordance with related laws.

In addition, DHSUD is responsible for overseeing land use planning by local government units, ensuring compliance with Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUP) and zoning ordinances, and implementing penalties for noncompliance.

On Monday, Secretary Aliling announced plans to streamline and digitalize DHSUD processes to improve transparency and service delivery.

“Itong natitirang tatlong taon ni President BBM, titignan natin lahat yan, wala tayong iiwan at yung obligasyon natin bilang departamento. Based sa charter natin, gagampanan natin,” he said.

(These remaining three years of President BBM’s term — we will look into all of it, leave nothing behind, and fulfill our obligations as a department. Based on our charter, we will carry out our mandate.)