The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is ramping up housing reforms this year as it pushes forward the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

Opening 2026 with what officials described as sustained momentum, the agency rolled out policy and operational measures aimed at speeding up housing production and improving services for homebuyers, informal settler families (ISFs), and developers.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said the department is building on gains from 2025 in line with the President’s directive to fast-track the delivery of safe and affordable housing.

“Natapos ng DHSUD ang 2025 na may positibong direksyon, at binuksan natin ang 2026 na may malinaw na layunin alinsunod sa utos ni Pangulong Marcos Jr.—ang ipagpatuloy at pabilisin ang paghahatid ng pabahay para sa ating mga kababayan lalo po yung mga higit na nangangailangan,” Aliling said.

Among the key reforms is Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2025-001 issued with the Department of Economy, Planning and Development, which updated the price ceiling for socialized housing to P950,000 for house-and-lot packages and P1.8 million for condominium-type units, with a minimum floor area of 24 square meters.

The department also acted on 129 pending applications for Certificates of Registration and Licenses to Sell (CR/LS) within the first 10 working days of the year, provided they were fully compliant with requirements.

To avoid project delays, DHSUD extended the compliance period for balanced housing requirements until March 31, 2026.

The agency likewise revived the awarding of Certificates of Entitlement under Presidential Proclamations in Palawan and Iloilo, benefiting more than 2,000 families who had waited years for land tenure security.

Under the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program through the Social Housing Finance Corporation, at least 36 sites have been approved nationwide, expected to benefit around 15,000 individuals, with additional projects set to reach over 30,000 more beneficiaries.

DHSUD has also expanded housing modalities, awarding 415 house-and-lot units in Occidental Mindoro under a horizontal housing project and signing agreements with Quezon City and Iloilo City for rental housing initiatives.

For incremental housing, five pilot sites were identified across Rizal, Manila, Cavite, Bulacan and Cebu, initially covering 271 families.

Aliling said the program’s expansion now covers the working class, informal sectors and ISFs, offering various pathways to homeownership and security of tenure.

“Sa ilalim ng mas pinalawak na Expanded 4PH, hagip na po natin ang iba't ibang sektor-mula sa mga manggagawa hanggang sa mga informal settler families—upang mas marami ang makinabang sa programang pabahay ng gobyerno,” he said.

He added that sustained coordination with private developers and government agencies is expected to further streamline permits and speed up housing rollout.

“Ang bawat tahanang ating naihahatid ay hakbang patungo sa mas may dignidad na pamumuhay ng ating mga kababayan. Walang maiiwan sa Bagong Pilipinas—kaya tuloy-tuloy po tayo hanggang lahat ay mabigyan ng pagkakataong magkaroon ng sarili nilang tahanan,” Aliling said.