President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.โs flagship pro-poor housing initiative is getting a powerful boost, as the countryโs top private developers pledged their full backing during a high-level dialogue with newly appointed Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling.
Held on Friday, the closed-door session brought together DHSUD leaders and representatives from the countryโs largest developer organizations, including the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association Inc. (SHDA), Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations (CREBA), Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP), and the National Real Estate Association (NREA).
The meeting was not just a courtesy call. It became a candid exchange focused on crafting practical solutions and aligning government and industry efforts to fast-track President Marcos Jr.โs housing goals.
A unified push for housing for all
Secretary Aliling, facing developers for the first time in his new role, laid down his mission: deliver the Presidentโs vision of decent, affordable housing for every Filipino. He called for unity and urgency in achieving this shared goal.
โLetโs not waste this opportunity. One last push. We still have time. With dedication, we can achieve this,โ Aliling declared, referring to the remaining three years of the current administration.
The developers responded with firm commitments and practical recommendations.
SHDAโs Francis Richmond Villegas emphasized the need for accelerated action, saying, โWe still have three years to revitalize the industry. Count on our support.โ
CREBAโs Demetrio Posadas echoed the sentiment, praising Alilingโs industry insight: โYou understand the real issues. With that, weโre confident in your leadership. We are fully behind you to help achieve homes for all Filipinos.โ
OSHDPโs Atty. Christopher Ryan Tan added a passionate pledge: โEven without the full policy in place, weโre already planning. You wonโt need to worry about us. Weโre with you all the way.โ
NREAโs Imelda Magtoto, meanwhile, urged the DHSUD to adopt varied housing models, including rental, horizontal, and incremental housing, to meet massive demand. โYou wonโt hit the targets with a one-size-fits-all approach,โ she warned.
A partnership beyond policy
Secretary Aliling welcomed the wide range of proposals, assuring the groups that DHSUD is already exploring integrated housing solutions tailored to different economic segments.
โThis isnโt just about putting up buildings,โ Aliling said. โItโs about restoring dignity, building lives, and ensuring no Filipino is left behind.โ
The dialogue underscores DHSUDโs renewed strategy to actively involve the private sector โ not just as builders but as co-creators of inclusive, livable, and sustainable communities.
With the Marcos administrationโs Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program (4PH) at the core of its housing agenda, the government now counts on this deepened public-private synergy to close the countryโs housing gap โ and deliver not just shelter, but real transformation for millions of Filipino families.