To sustain the momentum of the nationwide rollout of President Marcos’ flagship housing program, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is sending key officials down to the grassroots to engage and attract more partners, particularly local government units (LGUs).
Housing czar Jose Rizalino Acuzar instructed several undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and directors to now focus on the grassroots level for the nationwide implementation of the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program (4PH).
“Each official will be assigned to specific areas to closely monitor ongoing projects. This will enable us to focus more on the expeditious implementation of the flagship program throughout the country. This will also send a strong message of our commitment to the Filipino people as directed by the President,” he said.
“We need to focus and help our LGUs and other stakeholders and partners for a better and faster propagation of our national housing,” Acuzar added.
The set up would also help address local concerns and issues confronting the actual execution on the ground of the flagship program, which is touted as an “out-of-the-box and innovative” approach to address the country’s housing backlog.
“It is also a big thing that high officials of DHSUD can talk and face our partners so that the people of the town know that we are serious about the implementation of 4PH,” Acuzar noted.
The DHSUD-4PH Project Management Office, headed by Undersecretary Garry de Guzman, reported over 30 projects are now in various stages of development and construction all over the country. A total of 195 LGUs have so far expressed their intention to participate in the 4PH.
DHSUD officials continue to engage various national government agencies, LGUs and the private sector, particularly contractors, developers and banks. Key shelter agencies are also active in the 4PH implementation.
The Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund has started processing and releasing developmental loans to contractors of 4PH projects, further boosting the ongoing implementation of the flagship program.
The 4PH program was launched in September 2022. It aims to eliminate informal settlers through decent housing projects by 2028. President Marcos plans to address 6.5 million housing backlogs under his administration.
