Aliling orders review of housing programs to prioritize poorest families
By Trixee Rosel
At A Glance
- DHSUD Secretary Aliling orders review of housing programs to prioritize poorest families under the expanded 4PH.
- NHA and SHFC tasked to enhance housing support for informal settlers and displaced low-income households.
Photo: DHSUD
Newly appointed Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling has ordered a thorough review of government housing programs to ensure that the country’s poorest families are given priority access.
Aliling directed the National Housing Authority (NHA) and Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) to realign their roles under the expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, targeting informal settlers and low-income households.
“More than just inclusive, we must ensure that President Marcos Jr.’s expanded 4PH will be pro-poor,” Aliling said, stressing the importance of helping Filipinos without secure shelter.
The NHA was instructed to strengthen housing assistance for families living in danger zones and those displaced by government infrastructure projects, including those affected by the Manila Bay cleanup mandated by the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, the SHFC will revive its Community Mortgage Program (CMP), which supports low-income communities in securing land and building settlements through long-term financing with local governments and private developers.
A seasoned engineer from the construction sector, Aliling took office last week and pledged to expand the 4PH’s reach through innovative strategies, including greater private sector participation and more flexible financing schemes.
The 4PH Program aims to address the country’s housing backlog by creating resilient and livable communities nationwide.