THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) reported on Tuesday that the government has facilitated the delivery of 575,693 housing units, representing 51 percent of the target of 1.13 million units by the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term in 2028.
Of this total, 81,295 units were delivered through direct housing provision, 368,731 families were assisted via government housing financing programs, and 125,667 units were produced under the administration’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program, Housing Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said.
Aliling said that the president’s recognition of the agency’s housing achievements in the State of the Nation Address (SONA) reflects the collaborative efforts of national government agencies, local governments, the private sector, and communities in advancing the administration’s housing agenda.
“More than a validation of our achievements, this recognition inspires us to redouble our efforts so that more Filipino families can finally realize their dream of owning a safe, decent, and affordable home,” according to the housing czar.
Citing DHSUD and its partner agencies within the housing sector for working hand-in-hand to fulfill the Filipino dream of homeownership, Marcos acknowledged the efforts to address the nationwide housing gap as he underscored the sound lending system that makes housing more affordable for Filipinos.
“Rest assured that the DHSUD, together with our key shelter agencies, will continue to work diligently to expand the government’s housing programs, so that we may help more Filipino families achieve their dream of a decent, safe, and affordable home,” Aliling said.
During his fifth SONA on Monday, President Marcos emphasized the gains achieved by the DHSUD and the Home Development Mutual Fund, also known as the Pag-IBIG Fund, under the expanded 4PH program, noting that 500,000 homes were either built or financed under the administration’s flagship housing program.
“Under our housing program, more than 500,000 housing units have already been built and funded, including over 100,000 homes that we added in just one year through the Expanded 4PH Program,” the chief executive said.
“The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), together with the agencies in the housing system, is committed to fulfilling the Filipino people’s dream of owning a home. In partnership with the private sector and local government units, we are working tirelessly to address the country’s housing backlog. We are doing this through the development of new communities, the acquisition of Pag-IBIG Fund assets, the Community Mortgage Program, resettlement projects, and even rental housing initiatives,” the president added.
In a statement, the Pag-IBIG Fund said they contributed to the housing accomplishment by “providing affordable home financing to qualified members.”
Under the current administration, Pag-IBIG Fund released P517.45 billion in home loans which financed 379,294 housing units, based on the agency’s latest available data.
“A sound financing system is key to all of these efforts, as it makes housing more affordable for Filipinos. One of the main pillars of this system is the Pag-IBIG Fund. Its 17 million members continue to grow in number, and as a result, the fund’s resources and investments also continue to expand,” the president said during the SONA.
“Today, we increased the maximum housing loan limit to P10 million. For example, this allows married couples to have a greater opportunity to purchase the home they have always dreamed of for their family,” he added.
Under the administration’s Expanded 4PH Program, the Pag-IBIG Fund continues offering a 3 percent rate for socialized housing loans, that helps minimum-wage and low-income earners afford their own homes.
Also, in serving the middle class, Pag-IBIG said that the maximum housing loan amount has been raised to P10 million, which will give them access to a broader range of homes suited to their household needs.
