Expanded 4PH revives in-campus housing at UP-LB after 45 years
The Marcos administration launches the Expanded 4PH-UP-LB Rental Housing Project, marking the return of in-campus housing at the University of the Philippines Los Baños after 45 years.
Photo courtesy of DHSUD
The Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program has revived in-campus housing at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UP-LB) after a 45-year gap.
Officials from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and UP-LB on Thursday formally launched the Expanded 4PH-UP-LB Rental Housing Project, seen as a milestone in addressing housing needs within the university community.
UP-LB Chancellor Jose Camacho Jr. noted that the last housing project inside the campus was implemented during the administration of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. in the 1980s and benefitted faculty members.
The new rental housing initiative is part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s flagship Expanded 4PH Program, which aims to accelerate housing delivery for low-income Filipinos through various modalities, including rental housing.
Housing Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said the project reflects the administration’s directive to fast-track and expand the program’s coverage.
“Alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Marcos Jr., tuluy tuloy ang pagpapalawig at pagpapabilis natin ng Expanded 4PH para mas maraming pamilyang Pilipino ang makinabang. Kami po sa DHSUD ay nagagalak at naging kasangkapan kami para ihatid ang Expanded 4PH dito sa UP-LB,” Aliling said.
He added that rental housing is one of the modalities introduced under the 4PH Program, citing pilot and partner projects in UP-Diliman and in coordination with local government units in Quezon City, Victorias City, and Iloilo City.
The UP-LB project, the fifth rental housing initiative under Expanded 4PH, will initially consist of two five-storey buildings to be constructed in Paciano Rizal, Bay, Laguna, along a main road in front of the UP Rural High School campus.
Around 800 individuals from Los Baños are expected to benefit from the project, including low-income UP-LB employees and informal settler families in the municipality.
Aliling, joined by Senior Undersecretary Eduardo Robles Jr. and other DHSUD officials, assured UP-LB of the department’s continued support for housing initiatives.
“Hangad namin na sa mga susunod na linggo ay masisimulan na natin proyektong ito bilang pagtupad sa ating ipinangako nitong Disyembre,” he said.
“Kami nagagalak na kami'y naging bahagi sa milestone na ito with UP-LB, at makaambag sa inyong mga housing initiatives,” he added.