Developers commit 250K homes under 4PH rollout

Filipino families will now have access to more diverse housing options under the recalibrated Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to enhance the reach and adaptability of the government’s flagship housing initiative.

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said the expanded 4PH initiative addresses the previous “captive market” conditions that limited homebuyer choices. The revised program now includes subdivision-type or horizontal housing, rental options, incremental housing, and a revitalized Community Mortgage Program (CMP), allowing beneficiaries to choose housing solutions suited to their financial capacity and preferences.

“With these, we now have more options to offer to our beneficiaries depending on the need and their capacity. Instead of the previous limited choices that render home buyers as captive market, we have transformed Expanded 4PH into a beneficiary-focused program,” Aliling said in a DHSUD statement.

Previously focused on vertical housing formats, the 4PH program has been adjusted in response to buyer preferences for more affordable, subdivision-style units. The recalibrated framework also assigns defined roles to various key shelter agencies. The Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) will spearhead the enhancement of the CMP, the National Housing Authority (NHA) will handle rental housing projects, the Pag-IBIG Fund will provide low-interest financing, and the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC) will work on developing a housing secondary market.

The initiative has gained support from private developers. In a letter dated July 7, four major industry groups—Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations Inc. (CREBA), National Real Estate Association, Inc. (NREA), Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP), and Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA)—committed to constructing over 250,000 socialized housing units within the next three years.

Under Secretary Aliling’s 8-Point Agenda, DHSUD is also working to streamline housing processes. Technical Working Groups have been formed to review internal procedures, with plans to fully digitize transactions and set up housing one-stop centers across the country. Policies have been issued to accelerate application processing and clear existing backlogs.

“Malinaw po ang utos ng Pangulong Marcos Jr.—pabilisin ang serbisyo ng gobyerno, ipaabot ang Expanded 4PH sa mga nagsisikap magtrabaho at mga walang-wala sa buhay upang magkaroon sila ng sariling tahanan (President Marcos Jr.’s directive is clear—speed up government service and bring Expanded 4PH to hardworking and underprivileged Filipinos so they can have homes of their own),” Aliling said.