CREBA laments lack of priority given to housing

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines could gain the reputation of being a “land of the homeless” should the government continue putting little attention in addressing the country’s rising housing backlog, the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations Inc. (CREBA) said.

In a statement, the country’s largest real estate and housing group lamented the continued lack of priority given by the government to the sector, resulting to the perennial problem of housing backlog which, according to housing czar and Vice President Leni Robredo, could swell to 5.7 million units this year.

“In the Philippines alone will you see housing ranking among the least of government’s priorities. So now is the time to rally support before our country gains the notoriety for being the land of the homeless,” CREBA national president Charlie Gorayeb said.

Gorayeb said the backlog should not have risen to its current level had CREBA’s long-proposed Department of Housing and Urban Development (DHUD) bill been enacted into law.

“Only a full-fledged department can consolidate government efforts to attain our national housing goals with a Housing Secretary clothed with ample powers, functions and corresponding administrative accountabilities implementing a clear and sustainable housing vision,” he said.

The CREBA official said the DHUD bill has been pending in Congress for more than two decades now.

“Yet, the Constitution underscores the importance of housing and urban development as a basic human need and as a means to improve the life of the people,” Gorayeb said.

CREBA national chairman Noel Toti Cariño, however, said housing and urban development is not solely about the creation of residential structures and communities.

Cariño said it involves activities such as planning, finance, promotion, regulation, resource allocation, administration, and delivery and management, that would ensure a sustainable national housing program.

The CREBA officials said that with only a coordinating council at the moment, the national housing program loses the priority it deserves.

Citing a study by the Asian Development Bank, CREBA said the Philippine government spending for housing at no more than one percent of its total budget is the lowest in Asia.

The creation of the DHUD forms part of CREBA’s 5-point agenda, which aims to help address the country’s growing housing backlog and turn the industry into a powerful growth engine for the national economy.

The other four points of the agenda are long-term and affordable funds for socialized and economic housing, affordable homes for employees in urban areas, lands for human settlements, agriculture and the environment; and efficient local government housing regulations.