FOLLOWING a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., all key shelter agencies (KSAs) of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) have implemented a moratorium on loan amortizations in areas affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon and Tropical Storm Luis and Typhoon Maymay.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling lauded on Tuesday the immediate response of the National Housing Authority (NHA), Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC), and National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. (NHMFC).
NHMFC President Renato Tobias said that its over 20,000 housing loan borrowers will stand to benefit from a one-month moratorium on the payment of their monthly amortizations, which will be effective until Sept. 4, 2026.
Tobias said the moratorium forms part of NHMFC’s continuing efforts to provide immediate financial relief to borrowers affected by calamities and severe weather conditions in the provinces of Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Cavite, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro.
“Through this moratorium, NHMFC is providing our affected borrowers with immediate financial relief while assuring them that we remain ready to support them as they rebuild and recover,” the top NHMFC official said.
Under the moratorium, Tobias said payment of monthly amortizations would be deferred for one month, with no penalties or surcharges imposed.
“Borrowers covered by the moratorium who still wish to continue their monthly payment may do so voluntarily. For borrowers whose accounts are updated, any payment made during the moratorium period shall be considered as advance payments,” he said.
Aliling reiterated the president's instruction for all government agencies to ensure that assistance reaches all residents impacted by the heavy rains, particularly those in remote and far-flung communities.
Meanwhile, NHA General Manager Joeben Tai said his agency’s moratorium was automatically granted to residential account holders and does not require any application.
During the one-month period, which would be until the end of August, delinquency or additional interest charges will not be imposed, and the accrual of penalties, interest and surcharges will be suspended, Tai said.
Meanwhile, the housing czar said Pag-IBIG Fund would continue to offer its Safe Loan program to all qualified members.
"Pursuant to President Marcos Jr.'s order to ensure that no one is left behind, especially our countrymen affected by the southwest monsoon and the recent typhoons, we have directed our KSAs to immediately implement a housing moratorium for eligible beneficiaries," Aliling said.
"In times of calamity, it is crucial that we ease their burdens. This is DHSUD's contribution — to help, in whatever way we can, in the recovery of flood victims," he added.
The DHSUD chief said that he also instructed its regional offices (ROs) in affected areas to maintain close coordination with local government units and other agencies to assess the housing needs of affected families.
They were further directed to pay particular attention to communities situated in danger zones to ensure the safety of all affected residents, he said.
"We want to make certain that no one is overlooked, especially families in remote and high-risk areas,” Aliling said.
