A lawmaker on Wednesday night questioned the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) for having nearly 400 unfilled positions in the agency this year. 

Rep. Yevgeny Emano asked DHSUD why there were 396 positions that still needed to be taken upon in the agency.

DHSUD Undersecretary Randy Escolango said the data was as of August 5, this year.

“Unfilled positions were brought by the movement of personnel in the organization. Tulad ng promotion namin or retirement. Majority ng hiring namin is promotion. Pagka may na-promote, definitely may mababakante,” said Escolango.

(If there are promotions, there are vacant positions)

Escolango noted, however, that while there were many applicants for the vacancies, “most fall short of the pre-qualifying examination.”

“Doon bumabagsak ang mga applicants, kaya kaunti lang ang naha-hire,” he said. (That’s where they fail. That is why we have few hires)

Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the agency needs to do “a lot of catching up” in terms of its employment.

“You [have] one of the highest vacancy rates, unfilled positions,” said Adiong. 

Created on February 14, 2019, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development or DHSUD is the primary government agency responsible for the management of housing, human settlement and urban development.

The DHSUD also exercises oversight functions on its attached agencies or key shelter agencies – (1) National Housing Authority, which acts as the country’s primary shelter production arm; (2) Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund, which focuses on national savings program and affordable shelter financing for Filipino workers; (3) Social Housing Finance Corporation, which undertakes social housing programs catering to the formal and informal settlers belonging to the low-income bracket; and (4) National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation, which ensures the availability of affordable housing loans to finance homebuyers through secondary market for home mortgages.

Adiong said manpower is important in keeping the agency productive, most especially that DHSUD has technical programs and projects to undertake. 

The DHSUD has three bureaus that primarily perform policy development, regulatory functions and advisory roles:

1. Environmental, Land Use and Urban Planning and Development Bureau -  performs human settlements planning-related functions including formulation of planning guidelines, national urban development policies and programs, technical assistance to relevant stakeholders and land use monitoring
2. Housing and Real Estate Development Regulation Bureau - regulates the development of subdivision and condominium and other real estate projects, including the practice of real estate service by brokers and salespersons, through the formulation, promulgation and imposition of administrative fines and penalties, pursuant to Presidential Decree 957 and Batas Pambansa 220
3. Homeowners Association and Community Development Bureau - formulates policies and programs to be implemented by the regional offices, monitors proper implementation of the approved policies and programs, and capacitates regional offices in empowering the HOAs within their respective jurisdictions

Escolango said the agency already hired 116 employees so far this 2024.

The undersecretary added they would be able to fill the positions if the applicants pass the pre-qualifying examination.

“Yun ang kailangan nila ipasa. Yun ang requirement natin sa Civil Service,” he said.

(They have to pass that. It is a requirement of the Civil Service.)

DHSUD Secretary Jose Acuzar, for his part, stressed the importance of quality workers.

“May process of selection. Kung tanggap nang tanggap mapupuno namin. Pero yung quality ng empleyado, importante yun sa amin,” he said.

(There is a process of selection. We can fill up the positions but the quality of employees is important to us.)