The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is closing 2023 with an optimistic view that it would achieve new milestones in the implementation of the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program next year.

The 4PH is the flagship housing program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Launched in September 2022, it aims to build one million housing units annually until 2028 to address the country's 6.5 million housing needs.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said that 17 projects under the flagship "Pambansang Pabahay" are currently in various stages of development and construction throughout the country so far.

"I am confident that 2024 will be a milestone year for our President’s Pambansang Pabahay. Slowly but surely, we are now reaping the fruits of our labor," Acuzar said in a statement on Saturday, Dec. 30.

"It’s our simple way of returning the favor to President Marcos Jr. for his all-out support to DHSUD," he added.

Acuzar said that about 300 units at the Asenso Yuhum Residences in Bacolod City, headed by Mayor Albee Benitez, are set for turnover to locals.

More units are expected for delivery in the coming months, he shared.

Achieving goals

To achieve its goals to provide homes for all Filipinos, Acuzar cited the P13-billion revolving credit lines recently approved by the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund in support to Pambansang Pabahay.

Earlier this month, the Pag-IBIG Fund Board, chaired by Acuzar, approved the P12 billion and P929 million revolving credit lines for the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), respectively.

The credit lines would allow the development and construction of more than 11,000 housing units by the NHA and SHFC in attainment of the 4PH program.

Acuzar also branded Marcos' issuance of Executive Orders 34 and 35 in July as "huge push" to the DHSUD’s pursuit to its mandates, particularly on the provision of sustainable housing, human settlements and urban development.

The EO 34 declared the “Pambansang Pabahay” as the flagship program of the government and directed all government agencies and instrumentalities, including government owned and controlled corporations, to submit their inventory of available lands.

Meanwhile, EO 35 created the Inter-agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development (IAC-PRUD), also headed by DHSUD, which shall have the responsibility of facilitating and and ensuring the full rehabilitation of the banks along the Pasig River water system.

Juggling work

Aside from implementing the housing program, the DHSUD committed to perform its other core mandates which include policy formulations, environmental land use and urban planning and development, housing and real estate development regulations, homeowners and community developments, and technical advisory roles.

From January to November 2023, Acuzar said the DHSUD issued license to sell (LS) to 642 projects, comprising 489 new and 153 amended licenses.

He said this equates to a total of 123,985 residential and 256,834 non-residential units.

The issuance of LS protects homebuyers from unscrupulous developers and transactions since it requires the conformance of these projects with the prescribed standards, he explained.

In addition, 15,839 real estate dealers, brokers and/or salespersons were registered to ensure buyers’ protection with accredited sellers, the housing chief noted.

On urban development, Acuzar reported a cumulative data of 754 local government units (LGUs) with approved Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUP) for sustainable and resilient human settlements.

The DHSUD also reviewed 108 CLUPs, Provincial Physical Framework Plans and Zoning Ordinances for compliance with land use and urban planning guidelines, he added.

Meanwhile, 24,571 registered homeowners’ associations, 224 federations and 29 confederations are being monitored around the country as of October 2023.