Marcos to DHSUD: Build 1 million houses a year as promised

MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. dared the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) to fulfill the promise of decent and affordable housing for Filipinos under the government’s flagship program that aims to build six million housing units from 2023 to 2028, or one million houses a year.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Cebu City South Coastal Urban Development Housing Project in Cebu City on Feb. 27, Marcos reminded all concerned agencies and local government units to continue working together in order to realize the administration’s goal to build six million housing units for Filipinos in six years.

“Kaya naman ulit kong hinahamon ang DHSUD na manatili kayong matatag upang matupad ang ating pangakong mura at maayos na pabahay para sa mga kababayan natin na nangangailangan (I am challenging the DHSUD to be steadfast in order to achieve our promise of affordable and decent housing program for our country men in need),” Marcos said.

The President reminded the national and local government that there are still a lot of work to be done that their collaboration is needed in this program.

“Hindi magiging matagumpay ang programang ito kung hindi tayo nag-uugnayan at nagsasamahan at nagsasanib pwersa ng national government at saka ng mga local government (This will not be successful if our national government and local government don’t collaborate, work together, and join forces),” he said.

Marcos also called on the government agencies, including the House of Representatives and Senate, to ensure that the monthly amortization of the housing projects would be affordable as this will be occupied by minimum wage earners, informal settlers, those living in the danger zones, and those who want to own a simple, comfortable, and affordable house.

He further told them to ensure to build housing units that are sturdy, high-quality, and would withstands natural calamities like typhoons and earthquakes.

He also reiterated that part of the government’s massive housing program is to build schools, markets, health centers, and livelihood establishments near the housing projects.

The Cebu City South Coastal Urban Development Housing Project is located in Barangay Basak San Nicolas.

Its first phase will comprise 10, 20-storey buildings within a 25-hectare development site that will benefit around 8,000 informal settler families (ISFs) and low-wage earners in the City.

According to the DHSUD, this is the fourth time since last year that Marcos joined the department in launching and inspecting housing project sites.

The groundbreaking in Cebu City is the 16th of such event since the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program was launched in September 2022.

4PH is the government’s flagship program that aims to build six million housing units from 2023 to 2028.