The government has been dogged by allegations of widespread corruption since the President himself became a whistleblower about anomalous flood-control projects nationwide. Public trust in governance has sunk to modern-era lows, with the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing that 77 percent of respondents believe corruption has worsened significantly since 2022.

At a time when the nation again stands at a crossroads, Filipinos are seeking officials who truly embody the term “public servant” — leaders who exemplify integrity, selflessness, patriotism, and transparency. 

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling has made these values the cornerstone of his leadership since his appointment in May, long before the controversies over budget insertions and flood control projects came to light.

“For every P1 trillion stolen, one million houses are lost,” Aliling said during a 10 December roundtable at DAILY TRIBUNE’s headquarters. A licensed engineer, he previously served as DHSUD Undersecretary, where he applied his expertise in construction management, engineering, and the technical requirements of the department’s nationwide projects.

He noted that DHSUD’s anti-corruption drive has been “quiet, yet effective,” beginning on his first day in office with the launch of the Zero Backlog Program. 

The initiative resolved all cases filed with DHSUD since 2020. As of September 2025, the agency has cleared all 3,100 pending cases — a move Aliling said was intended to promote efficiency through transparency.

“From day one, while cleaning up the system, I launched the Zero Backlog Program so they cannot accuse me of slowing things down. In fact, things have become faster. This follows the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” he said.

Aliling also discussed the ongoing Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program, which aims to address the country’s 6.5-million housing shortage by the end of President Marcos Jr.’s term in 2028.

He highlighted several new socialized housing developments under the program, including a complex planned in Diliman near the University of the Philippines. Modeled after Valenzuela’s Disiplina Village, the project will begin construction next year with eight buildings offering affordable, quality homes for as little as P850 per month.

“Actually, it’s not rent, it’s just estate management,” Aliling said. “It’s a 27-square-meter unit, 2 bedrooms, so a family of five [can fit],” he added, emphasizing that socialized housing offers far better conditions than living as informal settlers or on the streets.

The DHSUD chief further noted that the battle against corruption often hinges on “mind games,” explaining that the gap between cost and quality is where kickbacks typically occur in the housing sector. “If you can close the gap between cost and quality, then you can solve corruption,” he said.

To ensure transparency, Aliling stressed the importance of full digitalization, which he committed to complete by 2028. The shift aims to eliminate slow, paper-driven processes and establish clear, auditable workflows across the agency. While digital systems are still being put in place, he personally oversees day-to-day operations to prevent new backlogs from forming.

“While full digitalization has yet to be realized, I manually monitor all pending cases day-to-day,” he said. “I know what cases are still ongoing in Region 1, 2, etc.”

For Aliling, the ultimate goal remains delivering quality, affordable homes to Filipino families. “The beautiful thing about rental housing is the reactions you get from people when you turn over the documents for their own property. They’re overcome with emotion,” he said. DHSUD’s attached agencies have enabled subsidized loans for low-income brackets at rates as low as 4.5 percent.

The department has also worked with the Department for Economy, Planning and Development to update the price ceiling for socialized housing, with the Implementing Rules and Regulations expected to be released this week.

In his six months as DHSUD secretary, Aliling has overseen sweeping reforms geared toward addressing the housing needs of Filipinos nationwide. He emphasized, however, that sufficient funding will be crucial to sustaining progress and closing the housing backlog.

“Hopefully, if they see how well our programs are doing, the national government will prioritize our budget in 2026 or 2027 through GAA. That’s the only way to ensure more socialized housing,” he said.