By Brian Jules Campued
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) expressed optimism in achieving milestones in 2024, particularly in sustaining the implementation of the flagship Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program of the Marcos administration.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, said the recently approved P13 billion revolving credit lines by the Home Development Mutual Fund or the Pag-IBIG Fund will further encourage private sector participation in various projects of the department.
The Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees, which Secretary Acuzar also heads, approved the P12 billion and P929 million revolving credit lines for the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) in December of last year, respectively.
These revolving credit lines for the NHA will finance the construction of 9,110 housing units in Quezon City, Valenzuela, San Juan, and Zamboanga, while the revolving credit lines for the SHFC will fund the development of 2,264 condominium units in Pampanga, Manila, Misamis Oriental, and Davao City.
“We expect more private partners, especially financial institutions, developers, and contractors to actively participate in the program this coming year,” he said.
To date, 17 projects under the 4PH Program are currently in various stages of development and construction throughout the country, according to DHSUD.
Additionally, about 300 housing units in Bacolod City are set for turnover with more units expected for delivery in the coming months.
Secretary Acuzar remarked on the President’s “all-out support” to the department, particularly the issuance of Executive Orders 34 and 35 in July 2023 which mandates the provision of adequate human settlements and sustainable urban development.
The EO 34 declared the “Pambansang Pabahay” as the flagship program of the government and directed all national government agencies and instrumentalities, including government owned and controlled corporations, to submit their inventory of suitable and available lands.
Meanwhile, EO 35 created the Inter-agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development (IAC-PRUD), also headed by DHSUD, which is responsible for the facilitating and ensuring the rehabilitation of the banks along the Pasig River system.
“I am confident that 2024 will be a milestone year for our President’s Pambansang Pabahay. Slowly but surely, we are now reaping the fruits of our labor,” Acuzar said. –cf
