House OKs bill creating housing department

MANILA, Philippines - A bill seeking to create a Department of Housing and Urban Development to deal with the housing backlog and improve urbanization was approved on third and final reading at the House of Representatives last  Wednesday.

Committee on housing and urban development chairman Alfredo Benitez defended and steered the bill’s approval on the floor.

“The creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (DHUD) is a big and timely step to make life better for Filipinos and help them have the dignity of having their own homes,” he said.

Detained Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benitez are among the principal authors of the bill, which obtained 229 votes. 

Other authors are Reps. Felix William Fuentebella of Camarines Sur, Winston Castelo of Quezon City, Rodel Batocabe of Ako Bicol, Abigail Binay of Makati, Silvestre Bello III of 1-BAP and Leopoldo Bataoil of Pangasinan.

The bill seeks to consolidate the functions of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, which are currently the primary agencies tasked to deal with the country’s housing needs.