Marcos Jr. recalibrates 4PH, expands housing choices

Under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive, the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program has been recalibrated to offer Filipino homebuyers more housing options.

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling announced that the Expanded 4PH now includes horizontal projects like subdivisions, rental units, incremental housing, and a revitalized Community Mortgage Program, making it beneficiary-centric.

Previously limited to vertical housing, the program now offers choices based on beneficiaries' needs and capacity, moving away from a captive market scenario with few options.

Key shelter agencies have been assigned specific roles to enhance various aspects of the Expanded 4PH, including Pag-IBIG Fund leading CMP enhancements and DHSUD handling rental housing.

Major developers' groups have committed to building over 250,000 socialized housing units under the expanded program over three years, reflecting strong private sector support.

DHSUD is also streamlining processes through digitalization and housing one-stop centers as part of Aliling's 8-Point Agenda to fast-track application processing and eliminate backlogs.

Pag-IBIG Fund recently introduced a special circular offering a 3-percent interest rate on socialized housing loans for up to 10 years, further reducing rates through government subsidies.