Housing reforms gain ground under DHSUD

Over the past seven years, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has steadily reshaped the country’s housing landscape through regulatory reforms, expanded shelter programs, and strengthened public-private collaboration aimed at narrowing the Philippines’ long-standing housing gap.

Established in 2019 to centralize housing governance, DHSUD consolidated key housing and urban development functions to streamline policymaking and project implementation. Since then, the agency has focused on accelerating housing delivery, resolving regulatory backlogs, and strengthening disaster response initiatives.

A central pillar of DHSUD’s efforts is the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, which aims to provide millions of housing units to Filipino families. Under the program’s expanded implementation, the department has intensified partnerships with developers and financing institutions, significantly increasing project pipelines nationwide.

Housing Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling described the reforms as part of a broader effort to improve efficiency and restore public confidence in housing services.

“Reforms are not always loud. Sometimes, the most meaningful reforms happen quietly — by fixing processes, clearing backlogs, and ensuring that government programs deliver tangible results to the public,” Aliling said.

In collaboration with the Pag-IBIG Fund and other partner agencies, DHSUD has accelerated the turnover of homes to qualified low- and middle-income families nationwide. As of early 2026, nearly 400,000 families have received homes through Pag-IBIG-aided programs, with almost ₱75 billion in cash loans disbursed. The joint efforts of DHSUD, Pag-IBIG, and the National Housing Authority aim to provide homes to 730,000 families by 2028 under the 4PH program.

“We are seeing stronger private sector participation because investors recognize that housing is both a social and economic priority,” Aliling said. “This partnership allows us to scale projects more quickly while maintaining quality and affordability.”

One of the department’s key accomplishments has been clearing thousands of pending housing registrations and regulatory applications filed in 2025, reducing bureaucratic delays that previously stalled housing developments and homeowner transactions. The initiative also strengthened compliance monitoring and improved coordination among housing stakeholders.

The department has likewise introduced reforms to complaint resolution processes, significantly shortening processing times and enhancing consumer protection in housing disputes. According to Aliling, these reforms were designed to ensure accountability while improving overall service delivery.

“Our goal is simple: faster service, clearer processes, and stronger protection for Filipino homeowners and buyers,” he said.

Beyond long-term housing initiatives, the agency has also played a vital role in disaster response. In 2025 alone, DHSUD deployed modular shelter units to provide dignified temporary housing for families displaced by earthquakes in Cebu and Davao Oriental, as well as by typhoons across Central Visayas and other affected regions.

These prefabricated units, organized into “Bayanihan Villages,” have provided secure and humane living spaces for displaced families — marking a shift from makeshift tents to more resilient temporary settlements. Secretary Aliling emphasized that these homes are intended “not just as temporary roofs … but as dignified shelters while communities recover.”

In addition to its mass housing initiatives, DHSUD has strengthened community engagement programs, including town hall consultations with homeowners’ associations to promote transparency and improve grassroots governance.

Looking ahead, the department aims to accelerate housing construction while continuing regulatory modernization and the digital transformation of its services. Aliling emphasized that the reforms are designed to produce lasting results beyond individual projects.

“What matters most is that Filipino families see real improvements — more homes built, faster services delivered, and stronger communities,” he said. “Housing is not just infrastructure; it is about dignity, stability, and opportunity for every Filipino.”