DHSUD sustains momentum in 2026 rollout of PBBM’s Expanded 4PH

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., alongside DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling and heads of national government agencies, visited the first Bayanihan Village in Cebu, built to support families displaced by the earthquake in October last year.

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) opened 2026 with sustained momentum, rolling out key reforms to accelerate housing delivery under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s flagship Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

Building on the gains of 2025, the Department implemented a series of policy and operational measures aimed at increasing housing output and improving service delivery for homebuyers, informal settler families (ISFs), and private developers nationwide.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said the strong start of 2026 reflects the President’s clear directive to fast-track the delivery of decent, safe, and affordable housing while ensuring that reforms lead to measurable outcomes on the ground.

“Natapos ng DHSUD ang 2025 na may positibong direksyon, at binuksan natin ang 2026 na may malinaw na layunin alinsunod sa utos ni Pangulong Marcos Jr.—ang ipagpatuloy at pabilisin ang paghahatid ng pabahay para sa ating mga kababayan lalo po yung mga higit na nangangailangan,” Aliling said.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling congratulated a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiary for their newly awarded housing unit at Abuab Towers in San Mateo, Rizal.

Policy and regulatory reforms

At the policy level, the DHSUD and the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) jointly issued Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2025-001, updating the price ceiling for socialized housing.

The circular raised the maximum selling price to P950,000 for socialized house-and-lot packages and P1.8 million for condominium-type units, while increasing the minimum floor area to 24 sqm.

To further sustain housing production, the DHSUD also directed the release of all compliant applications for Certificates of Registration and Licenses to Sell (CR/LS) within the first 10 working days of 2026.

As a result, 129 pending applications filed in 2025 with complete requirements were acted upon by DHSUD Regional Offices and the Housing and Real Estate Development Regulation Bureau.

Aliling emphasized that the directive applies strictly to fully compliant applications, consistent with existing laws, rules, and regulations.

To prevent disruptions in housing supply, the Department also extended the compliance period for balanced housing requirements until March 31, 2026, allowing developers additional time to meet their obligations without stalling project delivery.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling, along with key housing officials, engaged officers and members of top developers’ groups in the country in a fruitful no-holds barred dialogue at the DHSUD Central Office.

Presidential proclamations: Ending decades-long wait for land security

The DHSUD revived and expanded the awarding of Certificates of Entitlement (COEs) under long standing Presidential proclamations, including Presidential Proclamation No. 574 (s. 2004) in Palawan and Presidential Proclamation No. 1538 (s. 2008) in Iloilo.

These efforts have already benefited more than 2,000 families who have waited for decades to formalize their rights over the land they occupy—marking a major step toward security of tenure and community stability.

Enhanced Community Mortgage Program

Under the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program, (ECMP), the DHSUD, through the Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC), has approved at least 36 ECMP sites nationwide, expected to benefit around 15,000 individuals. Additional approved projects are also set to provide security of tenure to more than 30,000 beneficiaries.

The program continues to advance people-centered, community-driven housing solutions, enabling ISFs to access land ownership through collective action and government support.

Recently, the DHSUD and SHFC awarded assistance in Valenzuela City and Iloilo City alongside the distribution of Certificates of Lot Award (CeLAs) to 367 family-beneficiaries.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling, together with Senior Undersecretary Eduardo Robles, met with representatives from Social Housing Finance Corp. and Advocates of Housing for All to advance five pilot sites for incremental housing under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program.

Horizontal housing: Beyond vertical developments

As part of efforts to diversify housing solutions, the Department recently awarded 415 house-and-lot units under the Mamburao Ville Socialized Housing Project in Barangay Payompon, Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro.

This project marks the first horizontal housing development awarded since the expansion of the 4PH Program, signaling DHSUD’s renewed push to provide alternatives that respond to location-specific needs and family preferences. Rental housing rollout

Under the rental housing modality, the DHSUD entered into Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) with the local governments of Quezon City and Iloilo City, paving the way for rental housing projects expected to benefit thousands of families.

These initiatives aim to provide immediate, flexible housing options, particularly for workers and families who are not yet ready for homeownership but need safe and affordable shelter.

Incremental housing: Phased and affordable pathways

For incremental housing, the DHSUD sought the assistance of the Advocates of Housing for All (AHA) in December to identify pilot sites for the rollout of this scheme.

Following the assessment, five pilot sites were identified, initially benefiting 271 families in: Lupang Arenda, Brgy. Sta. Ana, Taytay, Rizal (11 families); Parola, Brgy. 20, Tondo, Manila (31 families); Yao Villas, Brgy. Bancal, Carmona, Cavite (20 families); St. Vincent Street, Brgy. Encanto, Angat, Bulacan (120 families); and Brgy. Cansojong, Talisay City, Cebu (89 families).

This modality offers families a phased and affordable pathway to home improvement and ownership, aligned with their financial capacity.

Private sector engagement and whole-of-government support

Aliling highlighted the growing participation of the private sector, citing the entry of Quadruple-A contractors into the Expanded 4PH, sustained engagement with developers’ groups, and ongoing efforts to establish interagency express lanes to streamline permits and licensing.

“These developments show that when government and private sector work together, mas napapabilis natin ang paghahatid ng pabahay at mas napapalakas ang tiwala sa programa,” Secretary Aliling said.

Toward dignified living for all Filipinos

Aliling reaffirmed that the Expanded 4PH now covers the working class, informal sectors, and ISFs, offering multiple housing options based on need, capacity, and preference.

“Sa ilalim ng mas pinalawak na Expanded 4PH, hagip na po natin ang iba’t ibang sektor mula sa mga manggagawa hanggang sa mga informal settler families upang mas marami ang makinabang sa programang pabahay ng gobyerno,” he said.

He emphasized that all initiatives remain anchored on the administration’s goal of dignified living for every Filipino family, vowing to sustain the program’s momentum throughout 2026.

“Ang bawat tahanang ating naihahatid ay hakbang patungo sa mas may dignidad na pamumuhay ng ating mga kababayan. Walang maiiwan sa Bagong Pilipinas, kaya tuloy-tuloy po tayo hanggang lahat ay mabigyan ng pagkakataong magkaroon ng sarili nilang tahanan,” Aliling concluded.