PCUP Backs DHSUD’s Balanced Housing Enforcement to Boost Socialized Units

The Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor has thrown its weight behind the DHSUD’s push to recover billions in socialized housing obligations from developers, aiming to accelerate the construction of homes for marginalized families.

THE Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) has expressed its firm and unequivocal support for the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) in its ongoing efforts to strictly implement the Balanced Housing Development Program (BHDP) under Section 18 of Republic Act No.. 7279, as amended by Republic Act No.. 10884.In an official resolution adopted by the Commission, the PCUP strongly endorsed the position of the DHSUD in strictly enforcing the BHDP and

supporting the reassessment, re-computation, and recovery of deficiencies arising from the incentivized compliance mechanism under DHSUD Department Order No.. 2021-004.. The Resolution comes in the wake of DOJ Opinion No.. 04, Series of 2026, and the findings and directive of the Commission on Audit (COA), which underscored that the incentivized compliance scheme resulted in the under-computation and under-collection of mandatory compliance obligations contrary to the minimum participation rates expressly required by law, and accordingly directed

the re-computation and collection of deficiencies that deprived the government of substantial resources intended for socialized housing production.. The resolution was collectively supported and contributed to by the four PCUP Commissioners — Atty.. Emmanuel Gison, Atty.. Bret Monsanto, Reynaldo Galupo, and Remedios Chan — reflecting the Commission’s unified stand in upholding balanced housing compliance and protecting the interests of urban poor communities.“Balanced housing compliance is not merely a regulatory obligation imposed upon developers, but an

important social justice mechanism that helps ensure resources are made available for housing programs benefiting underprivileged and homeless Filipino families.. The Commission expresses its full support for the DHSUD’s ongoing efforts to correct prior implementation issues and to strictly enforce the law as intended,” PCUP Chairperson Usec.. Michelle Anne Gonzales said in a statement.The Resolution likewise recognized the importance of the escrow-based mechanism as a practical mode of compliance that enables private developers to directly

support government-led and community-driven socialized housing programs, especially in areas where direct development may not yet be feasible.At the same time, the PCUP acknowledged that some developers may have complied in good faith based on existing administrative issuances.. Thus, the Commission recommended that enforcement and collection measures be implemented fairly and reasonably, including possible phased payment arrangements or other equitable compliance mechanisms consistent with the law.Significantly, the Commission also recommended that a substantial portion of

escrow fund collections be earmarked for a dedicated socialized housing reserve for families displaced by court-ordered evictions and demolitions, especially those lacking adequate relocation assistance.Further, the PCUP stressed that all recomputed collections and escrow-based compliance funds must be used exclusively to produce socialized housing and related housing programs and should not be diverted to unrelated expenditures or administrative purposes.According to DHSUD, the initiative is projected to generate ₱30 billion in collections, which could enable the

construction of around 30,000 socialized housing units.“We must decisively address the country’s housing backlog, as the lives, dignity, and future of millions of urban poor families depend upon it, recognizing that access to decent housing is not merely a social need but a fundamental right that strengthens the very foundation of our nation,” Gonzales stressed.The Commission likewise called upon Congress to exercise legislative oversight to strengthen compliance mechanisms, ensure accountability in the utilization of funds,

and prevent the recurrence of under-computation and under-collection issues in the future.The PCUP reiterated that the strict implementation of balanced housing laws remains essential in advancing the constitutional mandate of social justice and ensuring that underprivileged and homeless citizens gain meaningful access to decent, adequate, and affordable housing.Gonzales added, “Every peso properly collected under the Balanced Housing Development Program translates into additional housing opportunities and greater security for vulnerable Filipino families.”

PCUP, DHSUD, socialized housing, balanced housing, urban poor, housing backlog, developer compliance