DHSUD: Recalibrated housing program gives Filipinos better, cheaper choices

Filipino homebuyers now have more options under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s recalibrated Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program, which aims to eliminate the “captive market” setup that previously limited housing choices, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said Sunday.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said the recalibrated and expanded 4PH initiative now includes a broader range of housing modalities tailored to meet the needs of a wider base of beneficiaries — from the working class to the country’s most vulnerable sectors.

“With these, we now have more options to offer to our beneficiaries depending on the need and their capacity. Instead of the previous limited choices that render home buyers as captive market, we have transformed Expanded 4PH into a beneficiary-focused program,” Aliling said.

He added that the move complies with President Marcos’ directive to “widen our range of beneficiaries” and make the national housing program more inclusive.

Previously, the 4PH program focused mainly on vertical developments or condominium-style housing — a model that failed to gain traction among intended beneficiaries due to relatively high costs and preference for subdivision-type units.

To address this, DHSUD incorporated horizontal developments and revived the Community Mortgage Program (CMP), along with pushing rental and incremental housing. These expanded modalities, Aliling said, are being rolled out through key shelter agencies (KSAs) tapped for specific roles.

The Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) is handling the CMP with provisions for incremental housing; the National Housing Authority (NHA) is leading the rental housing efforts; Pag-IBIG Fund has launched exclusive low-interest rate options for socialized housing; and the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC) is focusing on developing the housing secondary market.

Private sector commits over 250K units

Following these changes, at least 42 private developers have committed to deliver more than 250,000 socialized housing units over the next three years.

In a joint letter dated 7 July 2025, four of the country’s top housing and real estate groups — the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders' Associations, Inc. (CREBA), National Real Estate Association (NREA), Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP), and the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association, Inc. (SHDA) — expressed strong support for the recalibrated 4PH.

“To date, these commitments total 251,846 units,” the group wrote. “We see this not merely as a numerical pledge, but as a concrete reflection of the mass housing sector’s confidence in the direction the Department is taking under your stewardship.”

Streamlining and transparency

The DHSUD has also initiated efforts to streamline and digitalize its services under Aliling’s 8-Point Agenda. Technical Working Groups composed of government and private sector representatives are now reviewing procedures to reduce bureaucratic red tape.

DHSUD is also establishing housing one-stop centers and digitizing services to improve transparency and turnaround time on permit approvals and applications.

Policies have also been enacted to address pending applications and fast-track dispute resolution. Secretary Aliling reiterated his zero-tolerance policy against corruption within the agency.

“Malinaw po ang utos ng Pangulong Marcos Jr.—pabilisin ang serbisyo ng gobyerno, ipaabot ang Expanded 4PH sa mga nagsisikap magtrabaho at mga walang-wala sa buhay upang magkaroon sila ng sariling tahanan. Yan po ang direksyon ng DHSUD, ang palawakin pa ang programang pabahay,” Aliling said.