The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is highlighting the inclusivity of the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program as it celebrates its 4th anniversary.
With the theme “Tahanang sapat para sa lahat,” this year’s celebration highlights the goal of President Ferdinand Marcos’ 4PH Program and the innovative efforts of the Department in making this happen.
The DHSUD has been working double time to confront the country’s housing needs.
With self-made businessman Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar at the helm, DHSUD has been leading the Pambansang Pabahay program to finally address the 6.5 million housing backlog.
In barely seven months, the program has elicited positive responses and has secured the overwhelming support of stakeholders which resulted in its speedy rollout.
Marcos himself has expressed his full confidence in the Pambansang Pabahay, dubbing it as the solution to the country’s housing problem, if the goal to build one million housing units per year is achieved.
Last January, the president called on Congress to include the needed housing interest support in the General Appropriations for the succeeding years as part of his administration’s commitment to lower the monthly amortization for homeless Filipinos.
Five times the need, five times the effort
Records show that the annual average housing production in the past years is pegged at approximately 200,000 housing units.
At this rate, the gap in production would balloon at an unprecedented proportion, if not properly acted upon. Thus, the target to produce five times more every year came to being.
Acuzar has vowed to work “five times harder” to fulfill his mission as the housing czar of this administration.
The first few months of his stint as secretary have been productively spent with rigorous technical consultations with industry experts and engagements with relevant stakeholders who are key to the program’s success.
Initially, DHSUD with its newly-appointed officials, has been actively involving the key players expected to participate in the program.
First and foremost are local government units which will serve as the implementing arm of the program in terms of allocating land resources and other forms of assistance, and identification of beneficiaries.
Road to 6 million homes
Indeed, the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program has just started, yet it has significantly made an impact on the dream of owning a house in a sustainable and safe community.
Much has to be done but DHSUD is moving forward with the program’s out-of-the-box approaches. It will continue to work on funding for interest support, secure land requirements and empower more LGUs on the ground.
More so, the department will explore avenues for financial support through developmental loans, end-user financing and private banks participation, as well as incentivizing the private sector to participate in the program.
It is a long way, indeed, but the plans are in place and DHSUD is up for the challenge.
At the end of the day – “lahat ng Pilipino, may bahay.”
This is the mindset that DHSUD will bear moving forward next year and the years to come.
DHSUD has sealed 70 memorandums of understanding with LGUs in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao as of February 15.
It also led groundbreaking ceremonies with 15 LGUs, signaling the official commencement of the projects.
President Marcos has personally visited the Bagong Sibol Housing Project in Brgy. Nangka, Marikina City in October 2022; inaugurated the Palayan City Township Housing Project in Brgy. Atate, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija in December 2022 and led the groundbreaking of the Redevelopment and Urban Renewal Project in Batasan, Quezon City in January 2023.
Model townships
These projects are touted to become model townships that will provide not only shelters to beneficiaries but also opportunities for social and economic growth.
With master plans that include schools, market places, open parks and health stations, soon-to-be residents will enjoy the amenities they will require in their day-to-day lives.
Massive support
Other organizations have also offered their support. These include the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, League of Cities of the Philippines, Bases Conversion and Development Authority, Land Registration Authority and the Sandiganbayan.
Financing
On the financial side, heads of government financial institutions, including the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund, Development Bank of the Philippines, Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System and Land Bank of the Philippines have formalized their support through an MOU with DHSUD as a testament to their commitment toward realizing the Pambansang Pabahay’s goal.
Full service for the people
On top of leading the Pambansang Pabahay, DHSUD continuously performs its core mandate which includes policy development, regulatory functions and advisory roles.
From July 2022 onward, the Department has issued a 373 license to sell to 321 projects with 100,477 residential units.
On urban development, 17 Comprehensive Land Use Plans and two Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plans were approved, and 25,021 registered homeowners’ associations are being monitored. DHSUD has also led activities toward the implementation of the Philippine New Urban Agenda.
The National Human Settlements Board has also allowed another year of the rental extension (January-December 2023) under the same terms in 2022. The allowable maximum increase in rent on any residential unit is capped relative to its prevailing rental value.
DHSUD also exercises oversight functions on key shelter agencies.
Notably, Pag-IBIG Fund has reported 46,433 housing units (38 percent increase from last year) under end-user financing, amounting to P52.4 billion in loan value (105 percent increase from last year). From this, 8,444 are socialized housing units with a loan value of P3.8 billion.
The National Home Mortgage Finance Corp., meanwhile, has secured the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission for its Shelter Asset-Backed Securities, which is expected to encourage developers’ participation for the Pambansang Pabahay.
For the Emergency Housing Assistance Program, the National Housing Authority (NHA) has assisted 33,637 beneficiaries, with a total amount of P349 million for the North Luzon Earthquake, Typhoon Odette (Regions 4B and 7), Typhoon Ursula and other calamities.
With the projects that started from the previous administration, NHA has awarded 30,000 Certificate of Eligibility for Lot Award and has completed 7,300 new housing construction.
The Social Housing Finance Corp., on the other hand, has assisted 706 informal settler families through community-driven and multi-stakeholder shelter financing programs amounting to P438 million loans released for four Community Mortgage Program projects.
A home for everyone
Indeed, the Pambansang Pabahay intends to provide a home for everyone. It also promotes unity, inclusivity and sustainability for the service of the Filipino people wanting to have a house of their own.
In recognition of this, DHSUD believes that no one should be left behind.