SHFC marks 22 years, expands role in national housing program

The Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) marked its 22nd anniversary by reaffirming its role as a key driver of the country’s socialized housing program, shifting its focus from building homes to developing sustainable communities.

For more than two decades, SHFC has supported low-income and informal-sector families through people-led housing initiatives, now aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

The agency said it remains committed to providing affordable, resilient, and community-driven housing solutions, with flagship programs such as the Community Mortgage Program (CMP). The CMP enables legally organized associations of low-income families to acquire and develop land under a community ownership model.

Beyond CMP, SHFC has implemented special housing projects addressing urgent national concerns, including high-density housing for families living along Metro Manila waterways and danger zones, as well as the Strategy for the Inclusive Mainstreaming of People’s Living Entitlements (SIMPLE) Program, which supports the resettlement of families in Intramuros, Manila.

The agency has also extended housing assistance to families displaced by the North-South Commuter Railway Extension Project and those affected by the Marawi siege.

To respond to growing housing demand in urban areas, SHFC has rolled out vertical housing projects under the 4PH Program. These include Crystal Peak Estates in San Fernando City, Pampanga; People’s Ville in Davao City; Valley View Township in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental; and Port Town in Manila. The agency said these developments maximize limited land resources while ensuring access to basic services and livelihood opportunities.

SHFC traces its roots to the early 1980s, when the community mortgage concept was first introduced in Cebu with support from development organizations and the national housing sector. This model later became the foundation of the Community Mortgage Program, which was formally recognized under Republic Act 7279, or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992.

In 2004, Executive Order No. 272 designated SHFC as the lead agency for socialized housing, mandating it to focus on informal settlers and low-income families through community-based financing.

In line with its push for innovation, SHFC launched the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program (ECMP) in July 2025. The agency said the program offers a faster and more flexible alternative to the traditional CMP.

Within months of its rollout, 36 ECMP projects were approved, securing land tenure for more than 6,200 families. The program’s impact was highlighted during the October 2025 National Housing Expo, where President Marcos Jr. awarded Certificates of Lot Award to over 900 beneficiaries from five ECMP communities.

According to SHFC President and CEO Federico Laxa, “We are on track in implementing our housing programs, particularly the ECMP, to help more Filipino families secure the land they occupy. This reaffirms our commitment to providing safe, secure, and inclusive housing where beneficiaries can build better lives for their families.”

SHFC said its housing strategy centers on inclusive, community-driven development, working closely with local government units, national agencies, and non-government organizations to empower beneficiaries and build essential infrastructure.

As it enters 2026, the agency aims to accelerate project approvals and deepen partnerships to expand access to dignified and secure housing for Filipino families.