On the occasion of the 4th anniversary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Senators JV Ejercito and Risa Hontiveros described DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar as ‘extraordinary’ for his innovative concepts as the country’s housing czar.
Recognizing the country’s housing woes, Ejercito commended Acuzar’s leadership in implementing President Marcos’ flagship housing program – the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program.
“We have a very daunting task ahead, a very gargantuan task of producing one million houses every year. We need to think outside the box and be extraordinary. Si Sec. Jerry (Acuzar) na talagang napakasimpleng tao, self-made man, palagay ko siya po ‘yung X factor na kailangan natin for the Department of Human Settlements,” Ejercito said in his message.
For her part, Hontiveros emphasized the role of DHSUD in curbing the 6.5 million housing backlog through the Pambansang Pabahay program and vowed support toward achieving the program’s goals.
“Marami pang trabaho at hamon ang kailangan harapin ng DHSUD. Makakaasa kayo na patuloy niyo ako, patuloy niyo kaming makakasama sa laban para sa maayos na pabahay para sa bawat pamilya. Hindi tayo titigil, hindi tayo mapapagod at hindi tayo susuko,” Hontiveros said.
Pushing for funding
She would continuously push for funding support for the realization of the Pambansang Pabahay program as vice chairperson of the Senate Finance Subcommittee that tackles the budget of DHSUD.
The two legislators served as guests during the opening ceremony of this year’s celebration with the theme, “Tahanang sAPAT para sa lahat (Adequate homes for all)” at the DHSUD Central Office in Quezon City last Tuesday.
They were recognized, together with Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, former Representative Jose Christopher Belmonte, former House Speaker Sonny Belmonte and other sectoral stakeholders, for their significant contribution in the creation of DHSUD.
Led by Acuzar, the celebration highlighted the milestones achieved by the housing agency in the past year, particularly in leading the Pambansang Pabahay program.
Under the program, the DHSUD is set to build and dispense one million housing units every year until the end of the current regime.
So far, the DHSUD has broken ground in 15 areas and has signed 70 MOUs with local government units for the construction and development of housing projects.
“Malakas ang aking kumpiyansa na talagang maisasakatuparan natin ang layunin ng 4PH. Nitong nagdaang taon ay tunay nating pinaspasan at pinaigting ang programang pabahay ng national government, sa tulong na rin ng ating key shelter agencies at iba pang partners,” Acuzar said in his keynote message.
The three-part celebration also witnessed the launching of the Philippine Urban Forum (PhUF) 2023, which was organized by DHSUD’s Environmental Land Use and Urban Planning and Development Bureau, in coordination with the United Nations Human Settlement Program or UN-Habitat.
The forum serves as a platform of cross-sectoral government and non-government agencies to discuss their roles and commitments in refining and implementing good governance, security of tenure, environmental protection, and disaster preparedness and mitigation in the country.
The event also marks the first time Acuzar and the newly appointed DHSUD executives celebrated the Department’s anniversary.
In his message, Acuzar thanked officials and staff of the DHSUD and its key shelter agencies (KSAs) for “whole-heartedly” accepting him as their chief and closely working with him since his appointment in July 2022.
“Nais kong pasalamatan ang bawat opisyal at kawani ng DHSUD at aming KSAs, anuman ang inyong lebel. The success of the 4PH depends on your capable hands and, so far, the results you have achieved are impressive. Salamat rin sa buong puso n’yong pagtanggap sa akin sa DHSUD family. It is a pleasure working with you every day,” he said.
Hence, the third part of the celebration was dedicated to the DHSUD workforce as service and loyalty awards were presented to employees who rendered years of continuous and exemplary service in the government.
Moving mountains
Acuzar said that in spite of the DHSUD’s achievements in the past year, it would persist in its thrust to maintain and improve the vibrancy of the housing and urban development sector in the country, especially with “effective leaders at the helm and a committed workforce by their side, the DHSUD will, no doubt, be moving mountains in the years to come.”
“There may be great challenges ahead of us, but greater opportunities are likewise awaiting us on the horizon. And so, I enjoin everyone to hang tight and soldier on as we improve the lives of Filipino families one adequate, resilient and sustainable house at a time,” he said.