Real estate group calls for transparency on DHSUD housing project approvals

Local

A REAL estate industry group is urging the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) to publicly release data on License-to-Sell (LTS) approvals issued over the past six months, saying transparency is needed to address concerns about delays in housing developments.

Anthony Gerard O. Leuterio, president of A Better Real Estate Philippines (ABREP), called on DHSUD to disclose the number of LTS approvals by region, project category and development type.

The appeal comes amid a dispute between ABREP and DHSUD Regional Office 7 (DHSUD-7) over the impact of permit processing on housing supply.

According to data posted on the DHSUD website, Region 7 has 884 projects with LTS permits, including 746 projects in Cebu. The records cover approvals issued from 2016 to April 2026, while a separate database lists projects approved in 2015 and earlier. The agency's records also show 14 projects granted LTS in 2026.

Earlier this month, DHSUD-7 disputed ABREP's claim that approval delays were preventing the rollout of around 10,000 housing units in Cebu.

DHSUD-7 Director Mark Anthony Lindugan said only two LTS applications remain under review by the regional office and both are already nearing approval. He said the projects—a residential subdivision and a columbarium—would have little effect on

housing availability in the province.

The regional office also maintained that applications are delayed only when developers fail to submit complete requirements or address deficiencies identified during evaluation.

Lindugan said the agency continues to streamline its approval process while ensuring compliance with regulations designed to protect homebuyers.

The issue surfaced as DHSUD implements its Zero Backlog Program after an internal audit found delays in the processing of licenses, permits and other regulatory transactions in some regional offices.

Leuterio said faster and more predictable approvals are essential to increasing housing supply and expanding options for buyers, particularly overseas Filipino workers who often depend on pre-selling projects for more affordable homeownership opportunities.

He said the private sector remains willing to work with government agencies to address the country's growing housing deficit while maintaining consumer protection safeguards.(MyTVCebu)