The design of an affordable housing project in MacArthur, Leyte under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program. The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development on Friday (Feb. 14, 2025) said it has partnered with 21 local government units in Eastern Visayas to build affordable housing for low-income earners in the region. (Photo courtesy of DHSUD)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has partnered with 21 local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas to build affordable housing for low-income earners in the region.
Various stages of implementation of participating provinces, cities, and towns are ongoing in some areas under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program, DHSUD 6 (Eastern Visayas) Director Michael Victor Tezon said in a press briefing Friday.
These local governments are Tacloban City, Ormoc City, Alangalang, Albuera, Kananga, MacArthur, Mahaplag, Matag-ob, Mayorga, Palo, Sta. Fe, and Tanauan in Leyte province; Southern Leyte’s provincial government and Libagon town; Biliran’s provincial government; Motiong and Catbalogan City in Samar; Guiuan in Eastern Samar; and Bobon, Lavezares, and Catarman in Northern Samar.
Tezon said eight of the 21 sites are considered priority after completing the five phases of the program process and with identified beneficiaries.
These projects, with 2,394 initially identified potential buyers, are in the towns of Guiuan, Albuera, MacArthur, Alangalang, Ormoc City, Tanauan, Catbalogan City, and Libagon.
“All these priority projects have approved designs. We are giving low-income earners a chance to own a house. There are already identified beneficiaries who can afford to pay the monthly amortization for as low as PHP1,700 per month,” Tezon said.
The project is funded by a private housing developer supervised by the DHSUD, except in Ormoc City, where the local government is funding the project, according to the official.
To avail of a housing unit, a beneficiary must be a first-time home buyer and a member of the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) for at least two years; have a stable monthly income; not have an outstanding Pag-IBIG short-term loan or account foreclosed or canceled; and not be more than 70 years old upon loan maturity.
Tezon said each unit costs about PHP1.31 million, with the government subsidizing the loan interest of Pag-IBIG.
The Marcos administration’s 4PH program prioritizes high-density/vertical development and uses government and private lands.
The DHSUD oversees and monitors the implementation of 4PH. It also provides parameters or specifications and extends support and technical assistance to local government units, developers, and other program partners, including facilitating the issuance of development permits and licenses to sell. (PNA)