Go presses DHSUD on license-to-sell delays

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go questioned the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) over reported delays in the processing and approval of licenses to sell during the Senate Committee on Finance Subcommittee A’s deliberation on the agency’s proposed FY 2027 budget.

The hearing, chaired by Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, covered the proposed budgets of DHSUD and its attached agencies and corporations, including the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission, National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC), National Housing Authority (NHA) and Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC).

Go raised concerns from stakeholders over the reported backlog at the DHSUD central office, noting that delays in issuing licenses to sell could also affect the implementation and delivery of housing projects. He asked DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling how many applications were pending and what measures the department was taking to address the backlog.

“How many licenses to sell applications are currently pending at the DHSUD central office?” Go asked.

Aliling explained that the processing of licenses to sell was initially centralized last year, prompting the department to revise its guidelines and implementing rules and regulations to ensure a uniform basis for evaluating applications.

“Mr. Chair, if I may explain, as explained a while ago. Ito pong license to sell was initially centralized last year,” Aliling said.

“Inayos natin iyong mga guidelines, iyong mga IRR natin, kasi we wanted a very consistent approval process,” he added.

Go then followed up on the department’s processing time and efforts to address the reported backlog.

“Ano ’yung average processing time and what measures is the Department undertaking to clear the backlog?” Go asked.

Aliling said DHSUD had been complying with a 15-day processing period, adding that the department had recorded zero overdue regulatory applications for 15 consecutive weeks.

He also said the processing of licenses to sell was no longer centralized.

“We are no longer centralized. We are decentralized,” Aliling said.

As of 28 September, DHSUD was monitoring applications covering around 197,000 housing units. Of these, 117,000 units had qualified after evaluation, while about 34,000 units remained under evaluation within the 15-day review period.

Applications covering about 31,000 units had been issued notices of deficiencies, while 13,000 units, or 6.7 percent, had been denied.

Aliling said DHSUD expects to release licenses covering more than 200,000 housing units by the end of the year, which he said would be the agency’s highest level since 2022.