The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said it has transformed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s flagship Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program into a more people-centric and pro-poor initiative in 2025, following the introduction of new housing modalities designed to cover all income brackets.

Under the leadership of DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling, the expanded 4PH now includes horizontal or subdivision-type developments, rental housing, the revival of the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program (ECMP), incremental housing, Presidential Proclamations, temporary shelters, and most recently, high-density housing.

Previously, the program focused largely on vertical or condominium-type developments, which DHSUD said did not gain wide traction due to affordability concerns.

“Malinaw po ang utos ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. –dapat maabot ng Expanded 4PH ang mga dapat na beneficiaries ng pabahay ng gobyerno, yan po ang mga kababayan nating nasa low-income bracket, ang mga nasa danger zones at mga informal settler families,” Aliling said.

“Kaya naman mas pinalawig natin ang Expanded 4PH para may aakmang programa sa pangangailangan at kapasidad ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.

Under the expanded framework, Aliling assigned each of the Department’s key shelter agencies to lead specific housing modalities. The Pag-IBIG Fund is offering a low 3 percent interest rate for all socialized housing projects and 4.5 percent for economic housing, alongside a mega sale of thousands of acquired assets.

The Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) is spearheading the ECMP, high-density housing, and incremental housing programs, while the National Housing Authority (NHA) is overseeing rental housing on top of its regular shelter initiatives. The National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation is leading efforts for the secondary mortgage market.

Rising numbers, growing support

The SHFC has revived 34 ECMP project sites nationwide, which are expected to benefit around 35,000 individuals. The awarding of assistance to accredited homeowners associations has already begun.

DHSUD has also entered into a memorandum of agreement with the University of the Philippines Diliman for the Pook Marilag Residences, the pilot rental housing project for UP constituents. Construction is scheduled to begin early next year.

The expansion of the 4PH has gained support from various stakeholders, including urban poor groups and private developers. Public housing advocates have welcomed the revival and enhancement of the pro-poor community mortgage program and are now assisting DHSUD in identifying sites for ECMP and incremental housing projects.

To date, more than 34,000 housing units have either been taken out or are ready for takeout under the expanded 4PH modalities.

“We just need to sustain the momentum, and look at other options to further improve the flagship housing initiative of the President. Under my watch, DHSUD’s doors are wide open for dialogue with all stakeholders to ensure alignment of efforts between the public and private sector,” Aliling said.

“Hangad ng Pangulo ay disente, ligtas and abot-kayang pabahay para sa mas may dignidad na pamumuhay sa ating mga kababayan,” he added.