DHSUD, Baguio to build township development

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) opened the new year 2023 with a bang—formalizing a partnership with the Baguio City local government unit (LGU) for a township development project that would benefit some 10,000 families.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong sealed the partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Thursday at the DHSUD Central Office.

Aligned with Baguio City’s strong advocacy on sustainability and resiliency in human settlements and urban development, the housing project aims to be among the ‘finest’ under President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program spearheaded by DHSUD.

The agreement targets a 6.3-hectare township development in the ‘City of Pines’ with ten 20-storey buildings in Barangay Tupinao, Tuba, Benguet. Initially, around 10,000 families, including informal settlers, from Baguio City are targeted to benefit from the project.

The MOU with Baguio City LGU is the first entered into by DHSUD this year, and the 49th under President Marcos Jr.’s flagship housing program that aims to address the country’s housing need pegged at more than 6.5 million units.

“Today, I am elated to open the year 2023 with this MOU signing with Baguio City government for their housing project under the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program of our beloved President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.—this is our first MOU signed for the new year,” Secretary Acuzar said.

“This signing ceremony signals the start of our collaboration—our bond to help Baguio City residents realize their dream of owning decent, safe and affordable shelters. This MOU will serve as the foundation of our common goal of establishing sustainable township in the country’s summer capital,” he added.

The DHSUD chief also stressed that the continuous roll out of the “Pambansang Pabahay” is a clear testament of the President’s commitment to uplift the lives of all Filipinos through the program, and address the country’s housing backlog by building 1 million units per year in the next six years.

Secretary Acuzar has expressed optimism that the program will go full blast this year and the construction of housing projects would start within the first semester as he vowed sustained engagements with all stakeholders, particularly LGUs from various parts of the country.

“We are on the right track,” he declared.