Gov’t taps NGOs to make housing programs more inclusive

In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive for more people-centered governance, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) initiated a stakeholder dialogue on Monday aimed at expanding inclusivity in the national housing program.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling met with key representatives from non-government organizations (NGOs), urban development experts, and civil society leaders to align on strategies that could broaden the reach and impact of the government’s flagship Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PHX) Program.

Among those present were urban development veteran Dr. Nathaniel von Einsiedel, sociologist Dr. Mary Racelis, LinkBuild’s Ana Oliveros, urban poverty expert Dr. Anna Marie Karaos, Joly Homes Foundation’s Vince Eugenio, and Maricel Genzola of the Federation for the Development of the Urban Poor.

Aliling emphasized the administration’s commitment to serving the “poorest of the poor” and those in the lower-income brackets by expanding housing options beyond traditional models. He said new modalities like rental housing, horizontal housing developments, and incremental housing are being explored under the 4PHX framework.

“That’s the exact directive of President Marcos Jr.—to be more inclusive and people-centric,” Aliling said. “We are committed to expanding to all feasible modalities to reach more beneficiaries.”

Participants welcomed the department’s openness to feedback, with several recommending the revival of programs like the Community Mortgage Program (CMP) and High-Density Housing (HDH), which promote people’s participation throughout the housing process—from planning to execution.

Following his appointment in May, Aliling has instructed DHSUD agencies to recalibrate their approaches. Three private developers have already pledged over 50,000 units under the horizontal 4PHX scheme, while the University of the Philippines-Diliman is in talks with DHSUD for a rental housing collaboration.

Aliling also directed the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) to revitalize CMP and the National Housing Authority (NHA) to strengthen pro-poor housing initiatives.

“While we are already pursuing those modalities, rest assured that DHSUD welcomes inputs from all stakeholders for the betterment of our programs,” Aliling added.

The expanded dialogue reflects a shift toward more collaborative governance in the housing sector, with the goal of not only increasing supply but also ensuring that solutions meet the specific needs of marginalized communities.