“The 4PH program should really adopt a whole-of-government approach with the DHSUD encouraging close collaboration with other government agencies”
The flagship housing program is being implemented by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development. The housing shortage in the Philippines should be seen in the context of a rapidly growing population.In fact, the country has one of the highest population growth rates in the Southeast Asian region.
For poor and low-income families, not to mention those already living on the streets due to extreme poverty, owning a decent yet affordable home appears unattainable, unless they can get help from the government. With the economic downturn due to the recent pandemic, the poverty rate has even increased, and more people face the grim prospect of being driven homeless.
The agency wants to finance the mass housing program partly through private bonds: “If we use private bonds, it is a big source of funds, like what developers do if they construct a building, those are all private bonds.” The DHSUD chief attributed the growing interest of private contractors and developers to the 4PH Program to the continuing releases of developmental loans by Pag-IBIG Fund.