Manila, Philippines—At the 25^th National Convention of The Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Association Inc. (CREBA) in Baguio City on October 12 to 15, the group is set to renew its call for the creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (DHUD) that would address the housing backlog, which is estimated to have reached 5.7 million units.

CREBA is the umbrella organization of some 4,000 individuals, associations, and firms involved in land and housing, construction, and allied industries.

Charlie Gorayeb, CREBA national president, said key lawmakers, shelter agency heads, top government officials, industry leaders from various sectors including the group’s 28 chapters nationwide would join the convention to signify support for the proposed DHUD and other key agendas to help eradicate the housing backlog.

“The backlog couldn’t have risen to this level had CREBA’s long-proposed DHUD bill been enacted into law. Only a full-fledged department can consolidate government efforts to attain our national housing goals with a Housing Secretary clothed with ample powers, functions, and corresponding administrative accountabilities implementing a clear and sustainable housing vision,” Gorayeb said.

The DHUD bill has been pending in Congress for more than two decades. “Yet, the Constitution underscores the importance of housing and urban development as  a basic human need and as a means to improve the life of the people,” he added.

According to Noel Carino, CREBA national chairperson, housing and urban development is not just about the creation of residential structures and communities.

“All these involve planning, finance, promotion, regulation, resource allocation, administration, delivery and management, and many other activities and support services involved to ensure a highly-beneficial, cost-efficient, growth-oriented, and even revenue-generating and sustainable national housing program,” Carino said. (Press Release)