Construction milestone kicks off at NSM 2026

The National Shelter Month (NSM) 2026, celebrated in the country through Proclamation 662, series of 1995, started this year with a major construction milestone under the Expanded 4PH Program.

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) leading the topping-off ceremony for Towers C and D of Jab Residences, part of the 4PH-Sampaloc III project in Barangay Paliparan, Dasmariñas City, Cavite.

The NSM is observed every October to highlight the importance of adequate housing and sustainable human settlements as a shared responsibility of government, communities, the private sector, and other stakeholders.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling led the ceremony alongside Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive officer Marilene Acosta, Megawide chairperson, president and CEO Edgar Saavedra and other officials.

Conducted less than seven months after the project’s groundbreaking in February, the ceremony marked the completion of structural works for the two towers and their progression to the succeeding phases of construction.

Jab Residences forms part of a planned 17-tower development expected to deliver at least 4,000 condominium-type housing units. The project reflects the role of public-private partnerships in advancing housing developments under the Expanded 4PH Program and widening homeownership opportunities for qualified beneficiaries.

Secure land tenure for ISFs

DHSUD and Social Housing Finance Corporation continued to help low-income families secure land ownership through the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program (ECMP), a modality under the Expanded 4PH Program that assists organized communities in acquiring the land they occupy.

During the NSM opening activities, DHSUD and SHFC awarded land titles to beneficiaries in Quezon City and Caloocan City, including families from Payatas, Batasan, Litex and Barangay 178.

Another awarding of rights benefited members of Alyansa ng mga Samahan sa Sitio Mendez Baesa, Inc. in Quezon City.

On 21 October, member-beneficiaries from Barangay. San Roque, Antipolo City, also received their long-awaited Transfer of Certificate of Title (TCTs).

Meanwhile, NHA issued housing certificates to beneficiaries of Navotas Homes 3 and Disiplina Village-Arkong Bato in Navotas City.

Quezon City 6th District Representative Marivic Garcia Co-Pilar joined DHSUD officials and key shelter agency heads during the awarding.

Since January, more than 5,000 families have received TCTs under the Expanded 4PH Program, according to SHFC, highlighting the continuing efforts of DHSUD and SHFC to help low-income Filipino families secure land ownership through affordable housing initiatives.

Through ECMP, organized low-income communities receive assistance in acquiring the land they occupy, helping strengthen their tenure security and providing greater assurance of residential stability.

Aid to disaster-hit families

DHSUD and National Housing Authority extended the National Shelter Month initiative to calamity recovery by distributing construction materials and shelter repair kits (SRKs) to more than 100 families in Apalit, Pampanga.

Secretary Aliling and Apalit Mayor Oscar Tetangco Jr. led the distribution of GI sheets, plywood, lumber, wires, nails and other materials for home repairs.

The assistance supports affected households as they restore damaged homes and work toward safer living conditions. The initiative also underscores the importance of responsive shelter interventions for communities facing the effects of disasters.

International engagement highlights sustainable housing and planning

DHSUD also brought its housing priorities to the international development community through Secretary Aliling’s participation in the UN-Habitat Dialogue and Networking Event held in observance of World Habitat Day.

During the engagement, Secretary Aliling briefed United Nations Philippines resident coordinator Arnaud Peral on the government’s housing initiatives under the Expanded 4PH Program, including ECMP’s community-based approach to land acquisition and tenure security.

In a message delivered by Senior Undersecretary Henry Yap, the DHSUD chief emphasized the relevance of the National Shelter Month theme, “Tahanan. Pamayanan. Kinabukasan,” to the shared goal of expanding affordable housing and supporting sustainable communities.

Peral recognized the roles of the Expanded 4PH and PLANADO programs in providing additional housing options and promoting risk-informed land-use planning for cities and provinces.

The engagement underscored the importance of integrating housing provision with responsible land-use planning and community development to address present needs while accounting for future risks.

Government agreements lay groundwork for future housing initiatives

Institutional partnerships also formed part of DHSUD’s National Shelter Month activities, with agreements aimed at examining development opportunities and aligning resources for housing and community projects.

Secretary Aliling witnessed the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MoA) between the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and Pag-IBIG Fund for the development of identified BCDA properties, particularly in New Clark City.

BCDA president and CEO Joshua Bingcang and Pag-IBIG Fund CEO Marilene Acosta represented their respective institutions during the signing.

The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation in planning, financing, developing, implementing, operating, managing and commercializing proposed projects, including housing and mixed-use developments.

BCDA will contribute development rights and, where applicable, existing site improvements and infrastructure. Pag-IBIG Fund will provide financing and technical expertise in housing and project finance, along with other forms of support.

In a separate initiative, DHSUD entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Mindanao Development Authority and Philippine Community Housing Corporation to assess a proposed integrated housing and community development initiative in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Secretary Aliling signed the agreement with MinDA chairperson Leo Tereso Magno and PCHC president and CEO Tan Chee Siong.

The MOU provides for an assessment of the proposed initiative’s technical, financial, legal, institutional, and operational viability. DHSUD and MinDA will support information sharing, inter-agency coordination, stakeholder engagement, and the review of possible implementation arrangements. PCHC will conduct a comprehensive feasibility study and submit its findings and recommendations to the concerned government agencies.

The two agreements reflect complementary approaches to housing development. The BCDA-Pag-IBIG Fund arrangement establishes a framework for the development of identified government properties, while the DHSUD-MinDA-PCHC initiative focuses on assessing housing and community development opportunities in BARMM.

Sustaining progress beyond NSM

DHSUD’s National Shelter Month activities demonstrated the range of efforts required to address the country’s housing needs, combining construction progress, land tenure security, public service access, disaster response, and coordinated development planning.

Through the Expanded 4PH Program and its work with KSAs, LGUs, private developers, and other stakeholders, the department continues to pursue housing initiatives responsive to the needs of Filipino families.

As the observance highlights the relationship between homes, communities, and the future, DHSUD remains focused on advancing housing opportunities and human settlements that support safer, more secure, and dignified living for Filipinos.

Commitment to dignified living

Secretary Aliling emphasized that NSM 2026 represents a continuing commitment to improving the living conditions of Filipino families through housing opportunities, secure land tenure, responsive services, and sustainable community development.

“At the heart of every housing project is a family looking forward to a better life. Every home built offers security, every community developed creates opportunities, and every right protected helps give families peace of mind,” Secretary Aliling said.

Through National Shelter Month, DHSUD continues to advance “Tahanan. Pamayanan. Kinabukasan” by bringing services closer to the public, one that connects homes with secure land tenure, accessible government services, organized communities, and sound development planning in pursuit of dignified living for Filipino families.