LGUs Urged to Identify Socialized Housing, Resettlement Sites for Victims of Recent Calamities

October 15, 2009

In an effort to help thousands of families displaced by the recent typhoons that hit the country, Secretary Ronnie V. Puno of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) today called on all city and municipal mayors to identify lands for socialized housing and resettlement areas in compliance with the provisions of the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 or Republic Act 7279.

In a directive, Puno urged city and municipal governments to conduct an inventory of residential, government, unregistered or abandoned and other lands for the purpose of determining which lands may be considered for socialized housing and resettlement for the immediate and future needs of the underprivileged and homeless in urban areas.

“I urge our mayors to act with urgency and fasttrack the submission of this inventory so that we may be able to assist the many families rendered homeless by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng,” he said.

Under RA 7279, within one year from its effectivity, all city and municipal governments shall conduct an inventory of all lands and improvements within their respective localities, and furnish the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) a copy of its inventory which shall be updated every three years.

The law further states that LGUs shall conduct the inventory in coordination with concerned agencies, and take into consideration “the degree of availability of basic services and facilities, their accessibility and proximity to job sites and other economic opportunities, and the actual number of registered beneficiaries.”

Puno noted, however, that a majority of cities and municipalities have failed to comply with the requirements of the law.

He said city and municipal local chief executives should direct their respective planning and development officers as well as their designated zoning administrators to conduct the inventory using the Land Inventory Form prescribed by the HUDCC, and submit the same starting the first week of 2010 and every quarter thereafter.

Puno also directed DILG regional and field offices to assist LGUs in their areas to facilitate the submission of the said documents and monitor their compliance.