In the recent revamp of key government positions, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. picked a top-notch engineer to realize his objective of providing 1 million housing units a year in the final half of his term.

The administration had set an ambitious goal of 1 million low-cost housing units annually to address the housing backlog, estimated at around six million units, through the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program. 

This target aimed to provide affordable, sustainable and disaster-resilient homes for homeless Filipinos and informal settlers by 2028. 

However, the goal has not been achieved, and significant shortcomings have hindered progress. 

The shortfall was due to implementation delays, funding shortages, land scarcity, the ambitious scale of the target, challenges in community integration, and the complexity of incorporating climate-resilient designs.

While programs like 4PH and partnerships with the private sector show promise, significant efforts are needed to scale up delivery and address these systemic challenges to meet the housing needs of millions of Filipinos.

The Chief Executive has appointed Engr. Jose Ramon Aliling as the new Secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) towards achieving the goal. Aliling replaced former DHSUD chief Jose Rizalino Acuzar, who has been reassigned as Presidential Adviser for Pasig River rehabilitation. 

Aliling, who previously served as undersecretary of the same department, brings a wealth of experience from the public and private sectors and a proven track record defined by transparency and social responsibility.

Before ascending to the top post at DHSUD, Aliling spearheaded two of the department’s flagship initiatives: The Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program and the Pasig: Bigyang Buhay Muli river revival project. 

Aliling’s technical background traces back to De La Salle University, where he earned a degree in Civil Engineering with a major in Hydraulics and Water Resources in 2002. 

He quickly gained recognition for his work, becoming the youngest president of the Construction Project Management Association of the Philippines at 29 and the youngest adviser to the DLSU College of Engineering Board at 26.

Probinsiyanong inhinyeros

Aliling is respected for advocating social equity and capacity-building within the construction industry. 

Through his company’s Probinsiyanong Inhinyero program, he has hired and mentored aspiring engineers from the provinces, offering them training and opportunities to work on world-class projects.

His strong belief in fairness reflects his efforts to digitize and professionalize construction management. He pioneered customized software and live video streaming to ensure project delivery transparency, accountability, and efficiency.

Aliling has led and funded numerous civic, religious, and charitable projects, often pro bono. His humanitarian initiatives include renovations of several churches, child nutrition and medical missions, and sustained support for the Center for Migrant Youth and schools for children with special needs.

These efforts earned him national recognition in 2015 as a recipient of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) award for Civil Engineering, the first awardee under this category since the program’s inception in 1959. 

In a resolution congratulating the TOYM awardees, the Senate called Aliling “one of the most trusted, professional and sought-after construction managers in the country.”

At only 37 then, Aliling was the president and chief executive officer of the Jose Aliling Construction Management Group, which include Jose Aliling Construction Management Inc. (JACMI), JAA23 Construction Management Inc. and Jose Aliling and Associates (JAA). 

He takes pride in the fact that almost 40 percent of the engineers who work at JACMI are female, demonstrating their outstanding abilities.

Young achiever

He was also the youngest president of the Construction Project Management Association of the Philippines at 29. At 26, he also became the youngest board adviser of the DLSU College of Engineering.

Among his distinctions is pioneering the creation and use of a Construction Management Manual and Customized Software that sets the standard for management of projects through live video streaming to promote transparency between project owner, contractors, and suppliers, and online real-time monitoring of all documents, which makes internal auditing faster and more accurate. 

Aliling has taken great strides to ensure that corrupt practices previously considered the norm for the industry are not tolerated or propagated in all projects. 

As the new DHSUD chief, Aliling will take over when the Marcos administration focuses on solving the housing backlog and upgrading urban infrastructure. 

His leadership will be key to scaling the 4PH program, which aims to build millions of housing units for low-income Filipino families by the end of the administration’s term.

Builder’s blueprint

In the private sector, Aliling spearheaded the growth of his construction group’s portfolio, overseeing projects ranging from commercial complexes and high-rise buildings to resorts and religious structures. Notable projects under his management include Shangri-La Resort and Spa Boracay, Makati Diamond Residences, Discovery Suites and Ascott Hotel.

Aliling’s company is also recognized as the first in the Philippines to achieve triple ISO (International Organization for Standardization) accreditation, for management systems, environmental practices, and occupational health and safety, emphasizing his push for higher standards and regulatory compliance.