Developers Commit to Provide More Socialized Housing This National Shelter Month

In celebration of the National Shelter Month this October, several real estate groups pledged to provide more socialized housing projects in the country, Manila Standard reported. This is in support of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD)’s 20-year housing roadmap, which seeks to supply adequate and affordable housing to all Filipinos. 

For its part, the DHSUD welcomed the commitment of the real estate groups, which include the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association Inc. (SHDA), National Real Estate Association Inc. (NREA), Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers Inc. (OSHDP), and Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations (CREBA).

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National Shelter Month

The National Shelter Month this year carries the theme “Ligtas at Matatag na Tahanan at Pamayanan: Kanlungan sa Gitna ng Pandemya at Nagbabagong Panahon (Safe and Resilient Shelter in the Time of Pandemic and Changing Climate).” The celebration emphasizes the important role of DHSUD and key shelter agencies in making decent, resilient, and affordable homes more accessible to Filipinos.

All throughout the month, there will be a signing of the memorandum of agreement for several residential projects across the country. The DHSUD will likewise acknowledge local government units, developers, homeowners associations, and other stakeholders for their efforts in strengthening the housing industry. 

Moreover, the shelter agency will host virtual events on their Facebook and Twitter pages, tackling different topics such as consumer welfare and the importance of the Comprehensive Land Use Program.

Proclamation No. 662 designates October as National Shelter Month, putting a spotlight on the role of housing in promoting the country’s development and improvement of Filipinos’ social, economic, and spiritual well-being.

Affordable Housing in Transit-Oriented Areas

Last July, one of the real estate groups that expressed commitment to DHSUD’s 20-year roadmap called on the government to allocate land for affordable housing in areas near transport infrastructure under construction. In the Manila Times report, Creba said that with a land provision, private real estate developers can focus on constructing the units in transit-oriented areas. This can improve the supply of decent housing and the quality of life of homeless Filipinos in the country, according to Creba. 

The group particularly eyes locations that are a walking distance from railway stations that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is building. These infrastructure projects present opportunities to meet the need for affordable housing that provides easy access to livelihood via mass transit systems, Creba said. 

The North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), which links Clark International Airport in Pampanga and Calamba in Laguna, can host a transit-oriented development (TOD), according to the group. With a TOD, the housing sector will be able to reduce the housing backlog and help relocate families living in high-risk zones. 

Creba is asking for the support of both the DOTr and the DHSUD, as the agencies can influence the crucial elements of affordable housing: land allocation and housing production. The transportation department can designate the land, as the shelter agency can arrange the construction of residential units via its partnership with private real estate developers.

Ensuring Housing Affordability

Still in line with DHSUD’s commitment to providing affordable housing to Filipinos, the shelter agency announced in August that they are currently reviewing the price ceilings for various housing projects, as reported by Business Mirror. They hope to finish the final pricing standards in the last quarter of 2021. 

The review, according to DHSUD Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, is a response to the request from developers and the importance of ensuring housing affordability. According to the housing czar, they are considering the cost of materials index and the current income of homebuyers in finalizing pricing ceilings for housing projects.

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The price ceiling set for economic housing projects has been P1.7 million since 2014. These feature a minimum floor area of 22 square meters. The rowhouses have a minimum lot area of 28 sqm, while the duplex or single attached are at 48 sqm. The single-detached properties are at 72 sqm.

Meanwhile, the price ceiling for socialized housing is at P480,000 for a 24-sqm unit or 22-sqm with loft; P530,000 for a 24-sqm with loft or 28 sqm; and, P580,000 for a 28-sqm with loft or 32 sqm or a two-storey, 16 sqm per floor unit. These prices have been in place since 2018.

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Article and Photo originally posted by Lamudi last October 8, 2021.

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