The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) welcomed a Department of Agriculture (DA) decision to exempt socialized housing projects from a current moratorium on land use reclassification.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said DA Department Circular No. 11, dated March 3, 2026, is vital to maintaining the momentum of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program.
The exemption allows housing projects certified by the DHSUD, the National Housing Authority (NHA) and other relevant agencies to bypass the suspension of agricultural land conversions.
The housing chief said the move will prevent significant delays in providing affordable homes to low-income and vulnerable sectors. Under the directive, the government seeks to balance the 4PH rollout with national food security and the protection of agricultural lands.
“This is a big thing in our compliance with the President’s directive—to speed up the implementation of housing programs to help our countrymen who continue to dream of having their own safe, decent and affordable homes,” Aliling said.
Aliling described the circular as part of a “whole-of-government” approach under the Bagong Pilipinas initiative.
He said the exemption ensures that the country’s housing development moves forward in coordination with other national priorities such as sustainability.
“This development will allow us to move forward with our socialized housing projects without unnecessary delays,” Aliling said.
“In the midst of today’s challenges, there is a government ready to support every Filipino who continues to dream of owning a home. Together, we can overcome this,” he said.
While the DA continues to restrict the conversion of most agricultural lands to protect food production, the 4PH Program remains a centerpiece of the current administration’s social agenda.
The government has not yet disclosed if specific budgetary increases will follow the administrative adjustment.
