The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is stepping up its efforts to provide more housing for informal settler families (ISFs) through a high-density housing (HDH) initiative under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

In Department Order 2025-021, issued on 9 December, the DHSUD officially integrated the HDH component into the Expanded 4PH, a move aimed at tackling the twin challenges of limited land and crowded urban spaces.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling called it a “major boost” to the administration’s housing agenda, highlighting its potential to improve the quality of life for families living in urban informal settlements.

“With the inclusion of high-density housing in the Expanded 4PH Program, we are opening more opportunities for our fellow Filipinos to finally have their own homes,” Aliling said. “This is in line with President Marcos Jr.’s directive to focus on providing safe and sturdy housing for our less fortunate kababayan.”

High-density housing focuses on building multi-story residential complexes that can accommodate large numbers of ISFs, either through in-city or near-site relocation or through land-sharing arrangements.

The program will be implemented by the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), one of DHSUD’s attached agencies, targeting families living along waterways in highly urbanized cities within the National Capital Region.

Aliling emphasized that community associations play a critical role in the initiative. “They help SHFC identify eligible families, ensuring that the right households are prioritized and included in the project.”

He also highlighted past successes of the program, noting improvements in policies and implementation strategies.

“Many families have already seen their lives transformed through high-density housing. This is a powerful tool to build more decent homes and provide our kababayan with a life of dignity,” Aliling said.