Negros Occidental third district Rep. Francisco Benitez recently met with officers and members of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association (CREBA) with regard to a housing development program. The congressman cited RA 11201, which created the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), and sought cooperation from the group in fast-tracking settlement development.
Speaking before an induction and turnover ceremony last month in Bacolod City, he said, based on government data, the private sector-led housing project needs 146 signatures for 78 permits from 27 offices, which will require 373 documents, in order to proceed with construction.
The congressman added, through DHSUD, government lands deemed suitable for housing developments are identified and, through a partnership with the housing sector, new construction can be accomplished.
Benitez called on CREBA to work with him in “bringing back the ‘human’ in settlements development.”
“We should not stop at just providing shelter, but building settlements that cultivate health, security, and productivity,” the congressman added./WDJ