An official from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has announced that the agency is exploring a potential partnership with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) to assist exiting household beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in accessing affordable housing options.
Director Gemma Gabuya, the 4Ps National Program Manager (NPM), stated during the DSWD’s online program, “4Ps Fastbreak,” that exploratory talks are ongoing regarding how 4Ps beneficiaries can avail themselves of the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program offered by the DHSUD. “We also need to prepare our beneficiaries in having their own homes before they exit the program,” she emphasized.
As part of the discussions, Gabuya mentioned that an agreement was made to draft a memorandum of agreement (MOA) and a data-sharing agreement (DSA) with the DHSUD. This collaboration aims to identify 4Ps beneficiaries who have the capacity to pay for affordable housing units.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian held an initial meeting with DHSUD officials, led by Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling, on June 19 to discuss potential housing projects accessible to exiting 4Ps households. During this meeting, Gatchalian highlighted the necessity of providing housing assistance to 4Ps beneficiaries to facilitate a smoother and more dignified transition towards self-sufficiency.
Launched in 2008 and institutionalized by Republic Act 11310 in 2019, the 4Ps program serves as the national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment initiative, providing conditional cash transfers to poor households for a maximum period of seven years to improve their children’s health, nutrition, and education.