The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) on Sunday, March 15, welcomed the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) decision to exempt approved socialized housing projects from its land use reclassification moratorium.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said the move will help accelerate housing delivery for low‑income Filipinos.

The DA issued Department Circular No. 11, series of 2026 dated March 3 to exempt housing projects already approved from the moratorium imposed under a previous department directive.

The moratorium had temporarily halted the conversion of agricultural lands for non‑agricultural uses to protect the country’s food security and agricultural base.

Aliling explained that the DA’s earlier moratorium on land‑use reclassification was intended to safeguard agricultural lands amid rising concerns over food security. On the other hand, the latest circular clears a major hurdle for housing projects falling under the socialized housing category.

Aliling described the circular as part of whole‑of‑government efforts to push pro‑poor and people‑centric programs as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“This is a big deal in following the President’s directive to speed up the implementation of housing programs to help our fellow citizens who continue to dream of having their own safe, decent, and affordable home,” Aliling said.

Further, he said this is “vital” in sustaining the positive momentum of the nationwide rollout of the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

The exemption applies to housing developments implemented or certified by the DHSUD and the National Housing Authority (NHA), as well as other appropriate authorities. It allows these projects to proceed with the requisite land‑use reclassification processes despite the earlier moratorium.

Aliling said the circular will help sustain the momentum of the ongoing nationwide rollout of the flagship Expanded 4PH program while ensuring responsible land‑use planning.

He noted the exemption will prevent delays in the development of socialized housing projects intended to provide safe, decent, and affordable homes for Filipino families, particularly those belonging to low‑income and vulnerable sectors.

“Housing development must move forward in coordination with other national priorities, including the protection of agricultural lands and the country’s food security agenda,” he said.

“This development will allow us to move forward with our socialized housing projects without unnecessary delays. This is part of the whole‑of‑government approach under Bagong Pilipinas — as we protect our agricultural lands and ensure sustainability, we must also make sure that Filipino families, especially the most vulnerable, have access to safe, decent, and affordable homes,” the DHSUD chief added.

The Expanded 4PH Program is the centerpiece of the administration’s housing agenda which aims to scale up access to affordable housing through public and private partnerships.