The President Orders Creation of Inter-Agency Council to Inventory Government-Owned Lands for Strategic Use
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued an administrative order to establish an inter-agency coordinating council that will conduct a comprehensive inventory of all government-owned lands for strategic purposes.
Administrative Order No. 21 aims to create a masterlist of government lands to facilitate the efficient allocation and utilization of the country’s land resources, especially idle lands owned by the government. This initiative is aligned with the government’s long-term economic plan, the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.
Co-chaired by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, the coordinating council includes nine other government agencies as members. The order was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.
In a related development from last year, the president also issued Executive Order 34, which designates vacant government lands for housing projects that focus on providing socialized housing schemes for families without permanent homes. These housing projects are part of the Pamabansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino program, the government’s primary national housing project.
According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority reported by BusinessMirror in 2023, there are over 57,000 Filipinos living in relocation areas, while more than 12,000 individuals are considered homeless. The creation of the inter-agency coordinating council is seen as a crucial step in addressing these housing challenges.
