City council approves Baguio housing program

By Gaby B. Keith

BAGUIO CITY -- The City Council passed resolution  218, series of 2023, confirming memorandum of understanding (MOU) entered into by the city government of Baguio with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) for implementation here of Pambansang Pabahay Para Sa Pilipino Zero ISF (informal settler families) program for 2028.
    The local legislature considered a letter of Mayor Benjamin Magalong dated March 8, this year, forwarding the MOU between DHSUD represented by Sec. Jose Acuzar and Baguio City represented by the mayor to the local legislative body.
    The city council's committee on laws, human rights and justice, in its 2nd Indorsement dated March 22, 2023, recommended the MOU's formal ratification.
    The committee said the DHSUD recently issued department circular 2023-004 granting authority to the agency and local government units to implement measures to address their respective housing gaps under the 4PH program.
    It also provides each partner LGU will act as the lead proponent in the implementation of the housing projects under the program, and that LGUs must formulate local policies and programs to support and facilitate project financing, construction and property management.