President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is confident his administration would lead the groundbreaking of sites for about 1.2 million housing units before his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (right) leads a groundbreaking ceremony for a housing project under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. (Photo from PCO)
He spoke during a series of groundbreaking ceremonies of the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program on Wednesday, April 19, in three locations in Bulacan—Heroes Ville, Brgy. Gaya-Gaya in San Jose Del Monte; Brgy. Caingin, San Rafael; and Brgy. Peñabatan, Pulilan. However, Marcos teased Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Rizalino "Jerry" Acuzar that he should take him next to sites with completed housing units. “Sabi ko sa kanya: O, sa susunod naman, dalhin mo kami doon sa mga — may naitayo na. Kasi baka sasabihin nila panay ribbon cutting natin, tapos wala ng nangyari (I told him: ‘Next time, take me to — where there are houses already. Because they might say that all we do is ribbon cutting, then nothing happens),” he said in a media interview. The President shared he would inspect the housing units next to make sure that the projects are being implemented. He is confident that his administration is on the right track in providing and offering affordable housing solutions to Filipinos. Marcos said there is a “market” for it. “One of the main indicators is marami talagang kumukuha. Maraming nagiging bagong miyembro ng Pag-IBIG Fund para nga—dahil interesado sila, mayroon silang pagkakataon na magkaroon ng bahay (One of the main indicators is many are purchasing. A lot are becoming new members of Pag-IBIG Fund because they are interested, they have an opportunity to own a house),” the Chief Executive added. For Marcos, this is “indicative” that his administration needs to continue the “supply” of affordable housing because there is a “market” for it. “Tama nga na tinugunan natin itong problemang housing na ito (It is really right that we are addressing this housing problem),” he said. The President also expressed his confidence on Acuzar, who he said had been successful in doing the same when he was still with the private sector. Aside from the aforementioned sites of the 4PH that Marcos graced, three other groundbreaking ceremonies in Bulacan were simultaneously conducted and publicly aired—the 12-hectare Pandi Terraces in Brgy. Bagong Barrio, Pandi; the 2-hectare Municipal Government of Guiguinto Employees Housing in Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Guiguinto; and the 2.6-hectare Pambansang Pabahay para sa Maloleño Program 2023-2025 in Brgy. Santor, Malolos City. Some DHSUD executives led these events. The historic simultaneous launch is another testament of the continuing rollout of the administration’s flagship 4PH program aimed at building one million housing units annually until 2028 to address the country’s housing backlog pegged at more than 6.5 million units. Under the new housing program, the DHSUD is also tasked to ensure the alignment of the policies, programs and projects of its attached agencies to facilitate the achievement of the program’s objective.