The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the local government of Quezon City are considering a rental housing scheme for informal settler families.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling and Mayor Joy Belmonte met Thursday to explore a partnership that would provide safe and decent rental housing, particularly for residents living in danger zones.

“That is one of the priorities under the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — to bring our fellow Filipinos living in danger zones to safe and decent communities,” Aliling said in a statement. “I am glad that Mayor Belmonte and I share the same vision in pushing for rental housing in Quezon City.”

Since taking office in May, Aliling has ordered the inclusion of rental housing as a new option under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program. The DHSUD has already started exploring a pilot project at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

Belmonte expressed her full support, noting that the city already has similar housing projects and is prepared to allocate land for new construction.

“We are very much in favor of rental housing because many people cannot afford ownership in a highly urbanized area due to the high cost of land,” Belmonte said. “Now that we are aligned, rental housing is the way forward.”

She added that the city has identified a blighted area for redevelopment and has already completed social preparations for the affected families, who will be offered either relocation or rental subsidies.