Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 8) — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. may soon sign an executive order (EO) reserving all idle state-owned lands for housing projects, Malacañang said on Monday.
According to the Office of the Press Secretary, Marcos is set to meet with banks and other financial institutions to assist the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
The housing agency aims to build one million housing units per year or six million by the end of Marcos’ term.
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Republic Act No. 11201 gave the housing agency the authority to take and administer government lands that have been idle for at least 10 years and use these for urban development.
The EO, which implements Section 24 of RA 11201, requires select government agencies to jointly identify idle state-owned lands suitable for housing and rural development.
Under the measure, an inventory will be conducted by the DHSUD, the Department of Agrarian Reform, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Land Registration Authority to identify the state-owned lands to be used for socialized housing.
The total land area referred to is estimated to be more than 16,000 hectares, Malacañang said.
Marcos said the EO “will not create new regulations but will just enforce the existing law.”
The chief executive added that the order will “ensure flexibility” in deciding which of these lands should be used for housing.
Housing Secretary Jose Acuzar earlier told the President that the DHSUD has secured the Development Bank of the Philippines’ commitment to the government’s housing program.
