TACLOBAN CITY (PIA) – The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Regional Office 8 (DHSUD-8) said it can fully complete, at least, one housing site for its Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program in Eastern Visayas.
DHSUD-8 Regional Director Michael Victor Tezon said they are prioritizing the commitment of local government units and capacities of developers to fully complete the identified 4PH housing project.
“We have become firmer in entering into Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with LGUs. They should really display interest and commitment and their developers should show they have enough resources and capabilities to finish the project. We do not want white elephant projects,” Tezon said during the Kapihan sa PIA Eastern Visayas on February 14.
As of February 2025, DHSUD-8 has already forged 21 MOUs with LGUs in Eastern Visayas, of which eight have been identified as priority projects which are now in various stages of implementation.
These local governments are Tacloban City, Ormoc City, Alangalang, Albuera, Kananga, MacArthur, Mahaplag, Matag-ob, Mayorga, Palo, Sta. Fe, and Tanauan in Leyte province; Southern Leyte’s provincial government and Libagon town; Biliran’s provincial government; Motiong and Catbalogan City in Samar; Guiuan in Eastern Samar; and Bobon, Lavezares, and Catarman in Northern Samar.
Meanwhile the eight housing sites identified as priority are the Guiuan Sunrise Residences in Poblacion Ward 10, Guiuan, Eastern Samar; Kabalayan Albuera, Brgy. Balugo, Albuera, Leyte; Abante MacArthur Residences, Poblacion District III, MacArthur, Leyte; Peak Residences, Brgy. San Vicente, Alangalang, Leyte; ODT Residences, Brgy. Patag (Camp Downes), Ormoc City; Better and Brighter Residences, Brgy. Malaguicay, Tanauan, Leyte; Step North Residences, Brgy. Payao, Catbalogan City, Samar; Casa Meadows, Brgy. Otikon, Libagon, Southern.
Among the eight sites, there are already 2,304 potential buyer-beneficiaries. Eastern Visayas’ housing needs reaches up to 350,000.
The Guiuan Sunrise Residences, which is now on land development status and will house 800 vertical housing units, is projected to be completed within the next three years. It already has 319 buyer beneficiaries endorsed by DHSUD for financing.
DHSUD assures the Pambansang Pabahay (4PH) program with its vertical housing development is more economically priced than other residential units in the market in keeping with the price ceiling imposed by the government for affordable housing.
Housing loan borrowers who will avail of units under the Pambansang Pabahay (4PH) program through a Pag-IBIG Housing Loan will enjoy an even lower interest rate than what Pag-IBIG Fund currently provides, which is already considered the lowest in the market.
This as DHSUD will subsidize up to 5 percent of the loan’s outstanding interest rate, allowing borrowers to pay a reduced interest rate on their loans. This will ensure that Filipino workers can now fulfill their homeownership dreams, especially those with limited financial resources. (ACR/PIA Leyte)
