The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are planning to collaborate on housing initiatives targeting the country’s most vulnerable populations, including street dwellers and beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling met with DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and other agency officials on Thursday at the DSWD Central Office to explore a potential program convergence that aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to enhance pro-poor housing interventions.
According to Secretary Aliling, a close partnership between the two agencies would enable more effective outreach to families most in need of government housing assistance. He emphasized that the initiative aims to deliver not just shelters, but dignified and sustainable housing options under the expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.
During the meeting, the two departments discussed ways to support DSWD beneficiaries — particularly 4Ps families and street dwellers — through either transitional shelters or permanent housing options. The DHSUD also sought access to DSWD’s beneficiary data to better align its programs with existing social welfare databases.
Secretary Gatchalian expressed DSWD’s willingness to collaborate, highlighting the importance of integrated solutions in addressing homelessness and housing insecurity.
To move the partnership forward, both secretaries tasked their respective teams to work closely on designing a joint housing assistance program that would complement DSWD's current initiatives and leverage DHSUD's infrastructure expertise.
The proposed collaboration is expected to broaden the reach of the 4PH program and enhance the government’s efforts to provide inclusive, dignified housing solutions for the nation’s most marginalized communities.