President Aquino (left) swears in Vice President Jejomar C. Binay as the new chairman of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) during oath-taking ceremony held in Malacañang Tuesday, July 20, 2010.

Vice President Jejomar Binay Tuesday took his oath as new Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and later attended a cabinet meeting in Malacañang.

President Aquino administered the oath to Binay as the country’s new housing czar in a ceremony at the Palace. Binay, former mayor of Makati City prior to winning the vice presidency, was accompanied by his wife Elenita and other members of his family during the 10 a.m. rites.

Binay had earlier accepted the chairmanship of the HUDCC offered by the President, saying he is ready to help the Chief Executive in attaining his vision for the country.

The President is also considering the Vice President to head a task force that would handle the concerns of the overseas Filipino workers. He said that Binay asked to lead the OFW task force when they tackled his appointment as HUDCC chairman.

After the oath-taking rites, the Vice President buckled down to work and joined President Aquino and the rest of the Cabinet in a closed-door meeting in Malacañang.

In his new cabinet-rank position, Binay will supervise the highest policy making and coordination body on housing and urban development. He will be responsible for providing various options to provide decent and affordable shelter to Filipinos, especially the poor.

Binay will also lead the HUDCC in formulating national objectives for housing and urban development; coordinating the activities of key government housing agencies in the national shelter program; monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the effectively of these agencies’ exercise of their assigned functions; and assisting in the maximum participation of the private sector in all aspects of housing and urban development.

The housing agency will also recommend new legislation and amendments to existing laws as may be necessary for the attainment of the government’s objective in housing as well as craft basic policies and mechanisms for the disposal or development of acquired or existing assets of the key housing agencies.