Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling assured the public on Tuesday that the government’s housing initiatives under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program are now more accessible than ever, thanks to newly expanded options tailored to every income level.

Speaking during the 2025 Post-SONA Discussions held in San Juan City, Aliling explained that the administration has broadened the housing modalities available under 4PH. From initially focusing only on condominium-type developments, the program now includes horizontal housing options such as subdivision-style row houses, house-and-lot packages, and even lot-only purchases.

“Every income segment in our society should have a housing program they can avail of,” Aliling said in Filipino.

“That’s why we expanded 4PH – to give Filipinos real choices based on what they can afford.”

He emphasized that this expansion directly addresses affordability by lowering monthly amortization costs. Using a standard Pag-IBIG loan with a 6.25 percent interest rate, a P1.8-million condo unit would normally cost P11,200 per month. However, with the new Pag-IBIG 3 percent interest rate and additional 2 percent government interest subsidy, the monthly amortization drops to just P5,800.

“For row houses, the previous P5,200 monthly payment goes down to P2,700, thanks to these subsidies,” Aliling noted.

For families who still cannot afford to purchase homes, the DHSUD is also offering rental housing options under the 4PH, to be implemented by the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC).

Aliling also mentioned the revival of the enhanced Community Mortgage Program (CMP) for families living in informal settler areas. Under CMP, beneficiaries can receive land titles for the lots where their homes currently stand.

All these initiatives are part of the government’s incremental housing strategy, which allows families to begin with basic, affordable homes and upgrade over time through programs like the Pag-IBIG house improvement loan.

“Our goal is to ensure that every Filipino has the opportunity to build a decent, dignified home – starting with what they can afford today, and improving it as their means grow,” he emphasized.