Beneficiaries of President Marcos' Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program shared how the flagship program positively impacted and transformed their lives toward secured and dignified living.
This, as the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development has intensified the nationwide rollout of the Expanded 4PH with various modalities benefitting thousands of individuals.
In Biñan City, 182 member-beneficiaries of Dreamland Homeowners Association (HOA) Inc. in Barangay
Tubigan on Wednesday finally secured land tenure after more than three decades of waiting through the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program (ECMP), a key component of the Expanded 4PH Program being implemented by the Social Housing Finance Corp.
On Thursday, in neighboring Cabuyao City, family-beneficiaries of Pasinaya Heights in Barangay Baclaran received their housing units under the Expanded 4PH Program, with the development expected to benefit around 8,000 individuals once fully occupied.
For the beneficiaries, the Expanded 4PH Program represents far more than housing assistance; they signify stability, security, and the fulfillment of dreams long thought beyond reach.
For decades, members of Dreamland HOA lived with uncertainty despite having established their homes and community in the area.
"Halos majority ng member namin ay natuwa, halos nagkaiyakan pa kasi finally nga daw nandito na kami sa stage na may pondo ang gobyerno para sa kagaya namin… sobrang saya ng mga tao nararamdaman simula nung nalaman nila na itong programa ng Pangulo natin ay nakaabot sa amin at naging isa kami sa mga benepisyaryo. Ang lahat ng pangarap… nag-uumpisa sa loob ng pamamahay. Kung naramdaman nila na kampante na sila sa pagtira sa lugar na kung saan sila na tumitigil, isa rin ‘yan sa nakakatulong sa kabataan na maabot pa ang kanilang mga pangarap," he said.
Jimmy Rodelas, a factory worker who has lived on the property for 25 years, described the moment as the realization of a lifelong aspiration.
"25 years na ako nakatira diyan sa tinitirhan naming lupa… maganda kasi maraming mga natutulungan na katulad natin na katulad namin na mahihirap… masayang-masaya na mapapasa amin na yung aming inaasam-asam na tinitirahan," he said.
Rizalina Magundayao, a housewife, likewise shared how the program ended years of uncertainty brought about by renting.
"Buwan-buwan kailangan kong makabayad para hindi ako mapaalis sa aking inuupahan. Ngayon, syempre nagagalak ako dahil isa ako sa pinalad na mapili na magkaroon ng ganitong pabahay. Nandito na lahat ng kailangan namin," she shared.
She also expressed gratitude to the President and expressed hope for pro-poor programs like the Expanded 4PH to continue.
“Sa ating Pangulo, sana po tuloy-tuloy ang ganitong programa para po sa aming mahihirap,” she added.
For delivery rider Luis Nasayao, the assurance of having a permanent home is invaluable.
"Mas maganda yung ganito na ano panatag ka na kahit patayuan mo ng maganda yung bahay mo… mahirap yung palipat-lipat ka rin ng bahay eh," he said, emphasizing the importance of secure homeownership for working families.
The same sense of hope was echoed by beneficiaries of Pasinaya Heights, one of the latest housing developments under the Expanded 4PH Program.
For many of them, the project offered an affordable pathway to homeownership after years of renting and uncertainty.
Production operator Abegail Candor said owning a home had always seemed difficult to achieve because of the high costs associated with housing.
"Nung kumuha kami sa Pasinaya, yun na-assure namin na kahit monthly kami magbigay, assure naman na sa akin na nakapangalan yung bahay… Dito talaga may sarili ka ng bahay. Hindi ka na nag-uupa talaga na kahit tumagal ka sayo din naman mapupunta… Maraming salamat po Pangulong BBM," she said.
Meanwhile, Grace Page, a logistics worker, recalled how her family frequently transferred residences due to rising rental costs.
"Dati nung nangungupahan pa talaga kami, palipat-lipat po kami talaga ng bahay. Tsaka yung mga anak ko din palipat-lipat din school," she said.
Today, she sees a more stable future for her family.
"Para sa akin... yung mga pangarap namin parang unti-unti na siya. Lalo na yung bahay... magkakaroon talaga ng sariling bahay kasi mahirap po yung palipat-lipat po tayo ng bahay. Mas maganda talaga na pag-uwi natin komportable din tayo na 'yun bahay na natin," she added.
For small business owner Paulo Baroro, the project provides not only shelter but also safety and dignity.
"Dito safety na po ang aking mga anak at asawa dahil mataas na antas ng pabahay na may murang paghuhulog… Ang tingin ko eh para bang kami nasa ibang bansa na at namumuhay doon pero hindi nasa Pilipinas pa rin kami. Napakaganda po nito. Ang laking tulong sa amin po ng pabahay na ito," he said.
He likewise expressed his gratitude to President Marcos Jr. for the life-changing flagship housing program.
“Salamat po kay Ginoong Pangulong Marcos sa programang naisip niyang ito… maiibsan ang mga mahihirap na walang bahay katulad namin. Sana po ay mapaunlad ninyo pa, madagdagan pa ninyo ang pabahay na ito para sa sambayan ng Pilipinas,” he said.
Secretary Aliling said the milestones in Biñan and Cabuyao demonstrate the administration's commitment to ensuring that more Filipino families gain access to safe, decent, and affordable housing.
"Sa ilalim ng Expanded 4PH Program, hindi lamang tayo nagtatayo ng mga bahay at komunidad. Binibigyan natin ng seguridad, dignidad, at bagong pag-asa ang ating mga kababayan. Ang bawat pamilyang nagkakaroon ng sariling tahanan o seguridad sa lupang kanilang tinitirhan ay patunay na ang pangarap na magkabahay ng bawat Pilipino ay unti-unti nating nabibigyan ng katuparan, alinsunod sa utos ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.," Secretary Aliling said.
The Expanded 4PH Pogram has been expanded to widen the range of beneficiaries upon the assumption of Secretary Aliling as DHSUD chief exactly one year today.
"Isang taon mula ng ako'y maitalaga, marami na rin tayong nagawa lalo na para sa ating mga kababayang maralita, ngunit marami pa ang dapat at pwedeng gawin upang matupad natin ang misyon na makapagbigay ng disente, ligtas at abot kayang pabahay para sa mas maraming pamilyang Pilipino."#
