The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said it is aiming to launch 5.5 million housing units across the country by the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term in 2028.
DHSUD Undersecretary Emmanuel Pineda confirmed the target during a hearing on the DHSUD’s budget in Congress.
Pineda said he agrees with Senator Risa Hontiveros who said the DHSUD had a “slow start in 2025” but “can catch up with its target.”
Hontiveros said the agency by 2028 would have launched 5.5 million housing units, but commented this will be short of the 6 million target.
Pineda assured lawmakers that they are taking steps to meet the target, with the aid of legislation including a pending bill to institutionalize the government’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) program, particularly on housing interest subsidies for the poor.
Pineda also appealed to legislators to institutionalize the program including the planned interest subsidies for the poorest of the poor Filipino families. The 4PH, the administration’s flagship housing program, intends to establish one million housing units annually.
Pineda also disclosed the planned targets: 500,000 in 2023; 800,000 in 2024; 1,000,000 in 2025; 1,000,000 in 2026; 1,000,000 in 2027; and 1,200,000 in 2028.
The DHSUD meanwhile echoed the disappointment of Senator JV Ejercito for the agency’s “measly” P5.4-billion budget for 2024.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said DHSUD is doing what it can to complement the budget being allocated from the government coffers, citing the innovative financial scheme that the 4PH program has adopted.
Under the 4PH, DHSUD would not rely solely on government funding but would tap the private sector to actively participate in the program. Acuzar was referring to their partnership with the private sector as developers and contractors. With Rio N. Araja
“In previous strategies, P36 billion can generate only 36,000 units. With the new program, P36 billion can produce one million houses,” he cited.
At least P36 billon is the intended interest support for one million housing units.
Ejercito, primary author of Republic Act 11202 that created DHSUD, backed the 4PH vision of bridging the country’s housing gap.
He expressed sadness over the measly allocation of DHSUD for 2024 even as he called for the prioritization of housing to address the backlog. With Rio N. Araja