Published November 9, 2016, 10:00 PM
by Ben R. Rosario

The House Committee on Housing and Urban Development has unanimously approved a measure that seeks to eliminate the relocation of informal settler families outside urban centers by establishing on-site, in-city or near city resettlement programs.

Chaired by Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez (PDP-Laban, Negros Occidental), the House panel voted early on House Bill (HB) 82 or the “On-site, In-City or Near City Resettlement Act” as its members aired hopes for early passage of the measure.

Benitez said HB 82 is included as an important component of a legislative package that provides a swift and more effective solution to the housing crisis in the country.

He noted that the country’s housing backlog has reached 5.5 million, with nearly 25 percent, or 1.5 million, representing ISFs.

Benitez disclosed that 600,000 of the 1.5 million families are concentrated in Metro Manila.

“More than a decade after the passage of the landmark legislation that is Republic Act No. 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 (UDHA), the Philippines is still struggling to improve its housing indicators. The government is having a difficulty in catching up with the housing demands of the burgeoning population of the country,” he said.

Citing a report of the Philippine Statistics Authority, Benitez said Metro Manila is among the world’s most densely populated urban center, playing host to 11.9 million people.