DHSUD expands 4PH housing options in Western Visayas

ILOILO CITY — The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is expanding housing options in Western Visayas under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program to include vertical and horizontal housing, rental arrangements, and community-based programs.

DHSUD Western Visayas Regional Director Eva Maria Marfil said the expanded program goes beyond the original 4PH model, which focused on vertical housing and community development.

“The expanded 4PH now offers a wider range of housing options including vertical and horizontal centralized housing, residential education, community-based housing such as re-enhanced community mortgage program, rental arrangements, and other particularly young programs,” Marfil said at a National Shelter Month press conference on Monday, Oct. 5.

The Enhanced Community Mortgage Program helps organized groups of residents acquire and develop the land they occupy, according to the Philippine Information Agency.

Marfil said the DHSUD regional office has several housing projects underway, including rental housing and a 4PH condominium development.

In Iloilo City, the Iloilo Residences rental housing project in Barangay Sambag, Jaro, is among the Expanded 4PH developments and will have two seven-story buildings with a total of 362 units.

Another major project, the Uswag 4PH Condominium Complex in Barangay San Isidro, is planned to have 13 10-story buildings with 1,677 units on city-owned property.

Decentralized real estate applications

Marfil said DHSUD has decentralized the processing of real estate applications, allowing the regional office to process, approve, and issue licenses to sell and other permits, licenses, and certificates.

“Starting [this] August [we have been] decentralized, meaning to say we are now the ones processing, approving, and issuing licenses to sell and other permits, licenses, and certificates that are being requested for real estate. So I think that’s very good news for the housing industry because it will save on time,” Marfil said.

She also cited a 90-day rule that requires the regional office to complete application processing within that period.

“We have the 90-day rule. It means that we are constrained to finish the processing of applications, payment of the filing fee, and then finish the whole process within 90 days. So, I think that will hasten the process,” she said.

The regional office also discussed conditional licensing for developers that have met other requirements but still need to fulfill their socialized housing obligations.

According to the office, developers granted such a license would be required to fulfill those obligations and place one-fourth of the required compliance amount in escrow.

Marfil said beneficiaries of socialized housing developments do not automatically qualify for interest subsidies because eligibility depends on the financing program’s requirements.

Building homes and communities

DHSUD also emphasized the importance of building communities alongside housing.

Marfil said housing developments should include essential facilities and services rather than stand alone.

“We do not build houses in isolation. We build communities,” the regional director said.

The agency said it works with local governments to ensure housing projects are built in areas that meet safety requirements.

“We work with our LGUs to ensure that housing projects are built on hazard-free science,” Marfil said.

The Philippine Information Agency reported in February 2026 that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government had financed and constructed more than 423,000 housing units nationwide since July 2022.

The National Shelter Month observance highlights adequate, affordable, safe, and sustainable shelter and promotes cooperation among government agencies, stakeholders, communities, and the public.