Housing permits seen hitting 4-year high
SMALL businesses, big dreams Daily Tribune holds its 19th Asian Innovation Forum at Mandaluyong City Hall, bringing together aspiring entrepreneurs and business stakeholders under the theme ‘MSMEs Rising Beyond Limits, Driving Opportunity and Growth.’
Photographs by Yummie Dingding for DAILY TRIBUNE
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) expects the number of housing units issued licenses to sell (LTS) in 2026 to reach its highest level since 2022, citing expanded housing options and stronger private sector participation.
“The housing sector is very much alive. This is reflected in our actual data on applications and licenses to sell issued in 2026. Based on the monthly average of applications and licenses issued, this year is expected to record the highest number of housing units issued licenses to sell since 2022,” DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said during the second National Housing Expo.
Aliling attributed the outlook partly to the expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, which offers more housing options for Filipinos with varying financial capacities.
“Since we expanded the housing options under the 4PH Program, more Filipinos have benefited from it. The program now lives up to its name, Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino, because we have options for every Filipino aspiring to live in a decent and safe home,” he said.
Under the expanded 4PH, families unable to afford homeownership may access the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program, rental housing and temporary shelter for those displaced by typhoons, earthquakes and other disasters.
GATHERED at the event (inset) are (from left) Jan Patrick Young; Martin Mendoza, Maya cluster lead for NCR; Eloisa Pamatmat, chief operating officer of Tipuno X; a representative of SBCorp’s Communications Department; Chingkee Mangcucang, Daily Tribune executive director for Brand Communications, Events and Promotions; and Allan Bueza of the DTI Negosyo Center in Mandaluyong City.
Photographs by Yummie Dingding for DAILY TRIBUNE
For prospective homebuyers, Pag-IBIG Fund offers subsidized housing loan rates of 3 percent for socialized housing, 4.5 percent for loans of up to P4.9 million, and 5.75 percent for loans above P4.9 million up to P10 million, or P20 million for qualified joint borrowers.
Aliling said the expanded program follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to make 4PH more inclusive and accessible to Filipinos across income levels.
He also cited stronger private sector participation in government housing initiatives.
More than 80 developers joined the second National Housing Expo, held 19 to 20 October at the SM Convention Center in Pasay City, up from about 40 at last year’s inaugural event. Online registrations nearly doubled to almost 40,000 from around 20,000.
The expo featured about 50,000 ready-for-occupancy units, along with property discounts, buyer incentives and on-site Pag-IBIG financing assistance.
Aliling stressed that sustained government-private sector cooperation is essential to expanding access to quality, affordable housing.