A faster way home: Precast technology transforms socialized housing

The government’s flagship housing program is turning to factory-built technology in a bid to deliver homes faster and at scale. At the ceremonial launch of a precast manufacturing facility operated by Megawide Construction Corporation in Taytay, Rizal, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., together with officials of Pag-IBIG Fund, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), and Megawide, underscored how industrialized construction can help meet demand under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program (Expanded 4PH).

The facility will manufacture precast components for Expanded 4PH developments financed by Pag-IBIG, allowing simultaneous production of walls, slabs, beams, and columns in a controlled environment. By shifting major building works to the factory floor, project timelines at construction sites can be shortened while maintaining quality checks.

“In line with President Marcos’ directive to expand access to affordable, decent housing, we are pushing modern construction methods like precast so we can deliver safe, quality homes faster for Filipino families,” said DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling, who also chairs the Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees. “By speeding up housing delivery, we not only provide more Filipinos with homes, but we also help create jobs, sustain construction activity, and stimulate the economy.”

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the inspection of Megawide’s pre-cast plant in Rizal on Feb. 16, 2026. He was joined by (from left) Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene Acosta, Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling, Megawide Chairman and CEO Edgar Saavedra, National Housing Authority General Manager Joeben Tai, and Social Housing Finance Corp. President and CEO Federico Laxa.

Financing scale and delivery targets

Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene Acosta said the partnership with Megawide is expected to produce more than 7,000 housing units within two years, or sooner. The agency invested PHP 10 billion in Megawide preferred shares in 2025 to support the construction of 7,143 medium-rise units in Cavite under Expanded 4PH, with a 9% annual return designed to help sustain competitive dividends for members’ savings.

“Today, we witnessed a major step forward in strengthening socialized housing through the adoption of modern construction technology,” Acosta said. “In line with our mandate to provide sustainable financing for the country’s housing industry, we support projects like this to speed up construction, improve efficiency, and deliver quality homes that remain affordable for Filipino families.”

Beyond the Taytay facility, Pag-IBIG has approved PHP 27.12 billion in housing development financing, with PHP 8.5 billion already released. These are projected to support 21,022 socialized housing units under Expanded 4PH. In 2025, the agency released a record PHP 140.54 billion in housing loans, assisting 90,727 members in acquiring or improving their homes.

Acosta also cited plans to support rental housing projects for workers who are not yet ready for ownership, particularly those seeking homes near employment hubs. She reminded borrowers that housing loan funds come from members’ pooled savings, underscoring the importance of sustained repayments to keep the fund stable.

Industry participation and employment impact

Megawide Chairman and CEO Edgar Saavedra said the precast facility reflects a shift in how socialized housing is built. “The creation of the new Expanded 4PH program by DHSUD and with Pag-IBIG will change the perception of how we view our socialized housing by applying the new building technology system, where most of the work will be done in the factory to assure quality and safety of our workers and shorten the construction time,” he said.

Saavedra noted that the company is implementing a prefabricated system comparable to practices in countries such as Germany and Japan. He added that the facility currently generates around 5,000 jobs—1,500 direct and about 3,500 indirect—and that Megawide plans to expand with a larger, more sophisticated plant to help deliver 100,000 units within five years.

For DHSUD, the integration of modern construction methods complements broader reforms, including streamlined permitting under its Zero Backlog Program and ongoing digitalization initiatives aimed at improving transparency and efficiency.

As the Expanded 4PH gains momentum, the convergence of public financing and private sector execution signals a recalibrated approach to socialized housing. It seeks to align speed, scale, and sustainability in addressing the country’s housing gap.

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