Social housing shift to horizontal projects expected to address complaints about cost

THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said it is adding horizontal projects to its social housing portfolio to address complaints about the high cost of tower units.

Department Order No. 2025-21 authorizes the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program to offer more housing projects configured as subdivisions.

The order also simplified the application process for homebuyers, the department said.

The government has set a target of building six million housing units by 2028. This has since been scaled down to 3.2 million units due to financing and construction issues.

“These new guidelines transform the flagship program into a people-centric, stakeholder-friendly initiative with simplified processes, both for the homebuyers/beneficiaries, our attached agencies and private developers,” Housing Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling said.

Since taking office in May, Mr. Aliling has sought to expand the 4PH program to include alternative forms of occupancy like rentals.

Mr. Aliling also approved the revival of 34 projects under the community mortgage program (CMP), which would benefit 5,000 member-beneficiaries.

Overseen by the Social Housing Finance Corp., the CMP assists legally organized associations of low-income persons to acquire and develop plots of land.

“This is to ensure that the expanded programs are not only affordable and accessible but also to promote dignified living conditions and sustainable communities for buyers or beneficiaries,” Mr. Aliling said. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz