President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order (EO) 34 allotting idle government lands for housing projects is a pro-poor measure that could spell the difference in addressing homelessness, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said Friday.

In a statement, Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said the issuance of EO 34 is timely as the DHSUD is rolling out the administration’s flagship “Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino” (4PH) program.

EO 34 empowers the DHSUD to identify national and local government lands that are “suitable for housing and human settlements, including new townships and estates development, in coordination with concerned government agencies and local government units (LGUs).”

“Ang impact po ng EO 34 ay diretso sa mga kababayan nating mahihirap, mga ISFs (informal settler families), mga urban poor, minimum-wage earners, ‘yung mga natutulog sa kalye, mga nasa esteros. Sila po ang makikinabang dito (EO 34 will directly impact our poor countrymen, the ISFs, urban poor, minimum-wage earners, the homeless, those living in esteros. They will all benefit from this),” he said.

He said Marcos directed all government agencies to allocate idle lands for housing.

“Patunay po ito na ang puso ng ating mahal na Pangulong Bongbong Marcos ay nasa mahihirap na Pilipino (This proves that President Marcos’ heart is on the poor Filipinos),” Acuzar said.

He further pointed out that EO 34 is a huge factor to significantly reduce the cost of housing units under the 4PH Program because of more utilizable lands, the most important component of the program.

“The allocation of idle government lands for housing will further bolster the ongoing nationwide implementation of ‘Pambansang Pabahay.’ Ang kakulangan ng lupang mapapagtayuan ng disente at abot-kayang pabahay ay isa po sa mga hamon na ating kinakaharap ngayon kaya malaking bagay po itong EO 34 (The lack of available land for decent and affordable housing is one of the challenges we currently face, that’s why EO 34 is a big help),” he said.

All concerned government agencies, LGUs and other government entities including government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) are mandated to “provide full support to and cooperation with the DHSUD to ensure the successful implementation of the program” through the mandatory submission of land inventories to DHSUD within 60 days from the issuance of the EO. (PNA)