Jibril C.

Cabiles Arch 163 Santos

2013-03883 Housing Backlog in the Phils.

Quantitative description of the housing backlog

“Socialized housing”, by government definition, are units costing not more

than Php 450,000. On the other hand, “economic housing” are homes that cost Php
450,000 to Php 1.7 million. 85% of the housing backlog consists of these two
brackets which cover the lower-income class. According to the National Economic
and Development Authority (NEDA), housing backlog will reach 6.8 million units by
2022, along with the 2 million unit backlog as of Dec 31, 2016. In Metro Manila
alone, there is a need for shelter agencies to provide at least 300,000 homes to
beneficiaries yearly to alleviate congestion in highly populated areas. A study noted
that from 2001 to 2014, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board issued Licenses to
Sell for only 2 million housing units that encompass all housing segments despite the
gravity of the housing issue. This would average around 130,000 housing units per
year which meant even if we averaged 250,000 units yearly until 2030, we will still
have backlog.

Also according to University of Asia and the Pacific in 2016, the Philippines
would need 12.3 million housing units by 2030 from an estimated backlog of 6.7
million from 2001 to 2015, in addition to a projected housing demand of 5.6 million
from 2016-2030. We need an average of 1 million homes every year. Given the
magnitude of the problem, it does not help that the budget for housing plunged to
P4.7 billion this year from P15.31 billion in 2017. The creation of the new housing
agency, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, have these
challenges to face to address the shortage of affordable housing.
Qualitative description of the housing backlog

It is clear that the housing backlog is caused by many problems that stem
from different branches of society and government. Examples of which are poverty,
overpopulation, low quality of mass transportation, shortage of land, conflicting
policies and regulations, rapid urbanization, rural-urban migration, and lack of access
to basic services among others. From the previous class activity, we identified that
the core problem based on our perspective was the lack of coordination between the
private sector and the state. The housing provision must remain a State function.
The fact of the matter is that real estate developers become the urban planners and
disrupt the land use planning of the government. The private sector should instead
just be encouraged to participate in housing development programs. The department
needs to hear out all sectors and stakeholders, along with proper planning, and
consistency in policy and implementation. Apart from this the budget for housing
needs to be increased and should be more prioritized, which is part of proper
planning and action. Adverse effects are brought about by the improper planning for
housing such as the relocation of communities away from their livelihood and to
areas offering very few opportunities for employment. The DHSUD and other shelter
agencies should come up with a comprehensive roadmap. They should provide
subsidy programs to help low-income families afford the housing units.

References
https://www.bworldonline.com/addressing-the-housing-backlog/
www.business.inquirer.net/271984/shda-bullish-on-resolving-housing-backlog/amp&ved=2ahUKEwj-
zqTbuqDkAhXIQN4KHZEuCYoQFjAEegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw3gJPQJt4ac1dRdsl3x16T5&amp
cf=1&cshid=1566840539654
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/05/22/the-oshdp-manifesto-to-solve-the-philippine-housing-
backlog/
www.philstar.com/nation/2019/01/07/1882858/government-urged-resolve-housing-backlog/amp/
www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-business/2019/03/05/1898800/housing-backlog-still-
challenge/amp/