SHFC targets 2026 expansion of community-led housing programs

The Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC) marked its 22nd anniversary today, highlighting its transition from traditional land financing to large-scale urban development under the national government’s flagship housing program.

The agency, which serves as the lead for socialized housing for low-income families, is currently integrating its community-driven model with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino” (4PH) Program.

Under the 4PH initiative, the SHFC has shifted toward vertical developments to address land scarcity in urban centers. Current multistory projects include Crystal Peak Estates in San Fernando, Pampanga; People’s Ville in Davao City; Valley View Township in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental; and Port Town in Manila.

“We are on track in implementing our housing programs to help more Filipino families secure the land they occupy,” said Federico Laxa, SHFC president and CEO. “This reaffirms our commitment to providing safe, secure, and inclusive housing.”

A key pillar of the agency’s recent growth is the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program (ECMP), launched in July 2025. The ECMP is designed as a faster, more flexible version of the agency’s original 1980s-era mortgage concept. Within months of its launch, the agency approved 36 ECMP projects, providing land tenure for more than 6,200 families.

In October 2025, Marcos personally awarded certificates of lot award to more than 900 beneficiaries from five of these communities during the National Housing Expo.

Beyond new construction, the SHFC manages specialized resettlement for families in high-risk zones, such as Metro Manila’s waterways, and provides assistance to those displaced by the Marawi siege and the North-South Commuter Railway Extension Project.

The SHFC was formally established in 2004 under Executive Order No. 272, though its roots trace back to the Community Mortgage Program formalized by the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992.

As it enters 2026, the agency stated it intends to accelerate project approvals and strengthen partnerships with local government units to reach “unserved and underserved” citizens.