DHSUD seen to miss target of 6 million housing units by 2028

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development on Monday said it would launch by 2028 the building of 5.5 million housing units across the country—500,000 short of its target by the end of the Marcos administration.

At a hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance on the DHSUD's proposed budget for 2024, Undersecretary Emmanuel Pineda said agency projections showed it could produce 500,000 housing units by 2023 — half of the initial target of one million units per year under the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program.

The 4PH Program aims to build one million housing units annually in a bid to erase the housing backlog before the end of the term of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in 2028.

The breakdown according to Pineda is as follows:

• 500,000 in 2023;
• 800,000 in 2024;
• 1,000,000 in 2025;
• 1,000,000 in 2026;
• 1,000,000 in 2027; and
• 1,200,000 in 2028.

"Base po sa projections namin, by the end of the term of the current administration, makakagawa po tayo ng around four million units, matatapos po the rest by the year 2032,” said Pineda.

(Based on our projections, we will have four million units by the end of the President’s term and the rest will be completed by 2032.)

Pineda said this was due to the time needed for the construction of the housing units. He said walk-up or housing units with up to four stories take eight to 18 months to build; medium-rises or buildings with five to ten stories, 18 to 36 months; and high-rises or those with ten to 30 stories, 36 to 48 months.

The period will cover the procurement, site development, and the actual construction of the establishments, he added.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said the agency by 2028 would have launched 5.5 million housing units.

"Short lang ng 500,000 sa target na six million,” she added.

(Just 500,000 million short of your six million target.)

“Bagamat hindi yong 1 million per year. We have a slow start... By 2025, mag-catch up na doon sa target natin na 1 million per year. Pero by 2028, launched na iyong 5.5 million... Iyong construction mag-stretch all the way to 2032... So ibibilin niyo pa po sa next administration iyong 500,000 na sila na po ang mag-launch, sila na ang mag-oversee ng construction nung nai-launch po ninyo,” Hontiveros said.

(We have a slow start but by 2025, we can catch up with our target. The agency will endorse the 500,000 to the next administration.)

Pineda answered in the affirmative and said the agency was also seeking help from legislators to institutionalize the program including the planned interest subsidies for the poorest of the poor Filipino families.

“Di lamang ibibilin, we’re actually taking steps supported by legislators. Mayroon na pong mga bill na naka-file to institutionalize the 4PH program, particular yung sa interest subsidy,” Pineda said.

(We’re not only going to endorse it to them but we’re actually taking steps supported by legislators. There are bills now filed to institutionalize the 4PH program, particularly the interest subsidy.)

The DHSUD is asking for a P5.4 billion budget for 2024.

It can be recalled that the first groundbreaking ceremony for the 4PH project was conducted in Batasan Hills in Quezon City for the establishment of medium-rise housing with 14,000 units.

Other local government units that have signed the memorandum of understanding for the project are Baguio, Mariveles, Bataan, Bacolod, Roxas, Iloilo, and Cebu.

IP housing

Meanwhile, the National Housing Authority (NHA) promised to complete its 12 housing projects for Indigenous Peoples (IP) by the end of the year.

“’Yung 10 projects po nakalipat na po. Mayron po tayong two remaining projects na iniintay matapos,” said  NHA General Manager Joeben Tai.

(Ten of the projects were completed. We’re now waiting for the remaining two.) —NB, GMA Integrated News