The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is optimistic that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program will go full blast with the initial construction of housing projects this year.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said following the positive traction gained by the program, he expects the initial construction phase to commence within the first semester of 2023.
The actual construction of mid- and high-rise buildings may take up to two years, he noted.
“I am optimistic that we can start with the construction of the projects with complete documentary and legal requirements in a few months,” he said.
“And we expect to go full blast within the year,” he added.
Since its launching in September or a few weeks after Acuzar’s assumption into office, the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program has already attracted interest of 47 local government units with the signing memoranda of understanding with the agency.
Of the 47 LGUs from Luzon, tye Visayas and Mindanao, 12 have already broken ground for their housing projects.
Mr. Marcos spearheaded the latest groundbreaking ceremony in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija on Dec. 21.
The flagship housing program got the support of several government financial institutions, such as the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund that allocated P250 billion for the program, Land Bank of the Philippines, Government Service Insurance System, Development
Bank of the Philippines and Social Security System.
Members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives have also expressed support to the “out-of-the-box and innovative” approach of Acuzar to address the country’s housing need pegged at more than 6.5 million units.
The Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program aims to build one million housing units every year in the next six years to bridge the growing housing gap.