The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) on Wednesday said the department will streamline rules for developers, buyers and homeowners groups to better serve the public as the government seeks to address the housing backlog in the country.

This, as DHSUD Assistant Secretary Sharon Paquiz identified problems in the licensing and registration of real estate projects of condominiums and subdivisions during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview over PTV-4.

Paquiz said the checklist requirements and the rules governing these projects are “scattered”.

She noted that developers had difficulty ascertaining the standard requirements for compliance while buyers or stakeholders were unable to identify whether the developers were licensed.

“Third, it’s hard for DHSUD because we’re composed of different regional offices and apparently our regional offices have their own set of standards, set of documentary requirements requested from developers,” she said.

She added the establishment of homeowners associations (HOA) goes with the development of housing in subdivisions and condominiums as well. HOAs and their members must also be registered.

To address all these concerns, DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar issued Department Circular 2024-005 last Feb. 14, promoting ease of doing business for developers and homebuyers.

During the same interview, DHSUD Director Angelito Aguila said the codification of the department circular consists of three books.

The first book includes the codification of all documentary requirements from the application for a development permit to the application for a certificate of registration of the project; license to sell housing units; and certificate of completion.

The second book includes the rules on appeal while the third book includes the rules on execution.

“Ang unang-unang pakinabang diyan, lalung-lalo na sa Pambansang Pabahay, ang ating 4PH, mapapabilis ang proseso to address our housing need – iyan talaga, talagang we have a backlog, nahuhuli ang produksiyon ng mga pabahay as against sa pangangailangan ng tao – mapapabilis ang produksiyon (The first benefit from this, especially in national housing, our 4PH [Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing], processes in meeting housing needs become faster — that’s really the problem, we really have a backlog — the production of houses does not meet the people’s need — there’ll be quicker production),” Aguila said.

He said the DHSUD would do its best to better the processes and listen to the complaints “to ensure the delivery” of the housing requirements of the people.

“We cut down the cost, it translates to cheaper houses for the intended beneficiaries,” he said.

“Para naman po sa mga stakeholders namin (For our stakeholders), developers and buyers of our residential units, we make sure that DHSUD is here to regulate, we make amends, we balance the interest of both parties,” Paquiz, for her part, said. (PNA)