September 26, 2018

The National Economic and Development Authority emphasized to the business sector the importance of housing and urban development in reducing poverty in the country.

“Besides rapid population growth, urbanization, and rural-urban migration, the housing needs of our country remain a challenge. We have to harness housing as a platform to reduce poverty and improve social outcomes,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said during a Century Properties – Mitsubishi partnership event last week.

He said that the housing needs of the country is at around 6.8 million units for 2017 to 2022, with a housing backlog of more than 2 million as of December 2016.

The Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 elaborates on strategies towards expanding people’s access to affordable, adequate, safe, and secure shelter in well-planned communities.

Pernia highlighted the BALAI Filipino Housing Program (Building Adequate Livable Affordable and Inclusive Filipino Communities), which is the Duterte administration’s ten-year national housing program strategy to close the country’s housing gap.

The program aims to improve government efforts in addressing Filipinos’ housing needs, with the private sector playing a significant and pivotal role.

According to AmBisyon Natin 2040, most Filipinos dream of owning a home—even just a simple one.

“To help the Filipino achieve this dream, NEDA will carry on supporting communities, marginalized sectors, local government units, and the private sector in promoting safe, secure, and well-planned communities so Filipino families can enjoy a life that is strongly-rooted, comfortable and secure,” said Pernia.

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