DILG Region III, in partnership with HUDCC, spearheaded the conduct of the one-day Orientation on Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) for Local Housing Board for the 94 Local Government Units within the Manila Bay Watershed Area from April 4 to 16, 2013. Participants to the activity are the Local Planning and Development Officers, Local Engineer, Sanggunian Secretaries, Local Social Welfare and Development Officers and the DILG Officers concerned from the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Tarlac. The activity was aimed at institutionalizing the Local Housing Boards (LHBs) in LGUs.
RD Florida Dijan, in her message, emphasized the roles of DILG and LGU in the organization of the LHBs. Likewise, ARD Abraham Pascua mentioned that planning for the informal and informal settlers should be a priority since the development and rapid urbanization is now extending outside Metro Manila especially in Central Luzon where three major highways consisting of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark Expressway (SCTEX) and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway passes through the region.
Atty Alvin T. Claridades, Director of the Post Proclamation Group of HUDCC, together with Ms. Corazon de Leon of HUDCC and Ms. Inez Gonzales of NHA served as resource speakers during the activity.
The series of orientations were facilitated by the Informal Settler Families Unit-Monitoring and Evaluation Division (ISF-MED) headed by LGOO VII Lerrie S. Hernandez.
