Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program housing units in Malabon City (PIA-NCR file)
MANILA, (PIA) — The nationwide rollout of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s “Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program” (4PH) received a significant boost with the signing of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for Executive Order (EO) 34.
EO 34, signed late last year, designated the 4PH program as a government flagship initiative and mandated an inventory of idle government lands suitable for housing development. The IRR, officially released on April 29, 2024, outlines the specific roles and responsibilities of various agencies involved in the program’s execution.
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar expressed optimism about the IRR’s impact, stating, “With EO 34 now fleshed out, we can ensure a smoother implementation of the Pambansang Pabahay program alongside other responsible agencies.”
“This is a major step towards the success of the Pambansang Pabahay program and for our countrymen who continue to dream of owning decent and affordable homes,” Secretary Acuzar added.
Key roles and responsibilities
The IRR clearly defines the roles of participating agencies:
- DHSUD: Lead agency responsible for collecting a detailed inventory of suitable government lands for housing projects. This includes land owned by national government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), and local government units (LGUs).
- Department of the Environment and Natural Resources: Provide DHSUD with existing data on government lands, including patrimonial properties, public lands, reservations, and relevant maps.
- Department of the Interior and Local Government: Support DHSUD in coordinating and mobilizing LGUs to ensure effective implementation of the IRR.
- Land Registration Authority: Assist involved agencies and entities in verifying land titles registered under their names and contribute to the land inventory process.
Streamlined Processes
The IRR also establishes procedures for various aspects of the program, including:
- Identifying and inventorying suitable land parcels.
- Obtaining certified copies of land titles.
- Acquiring identified lands.
- Monitoring program compliance.
- Allocating manpower and resources.
- Conceptualizing, developing, and implementing housing projects.
- Focus on Affordable Housing for Filipinos
EO 34, along with its recently signed IRR, is hailed as a pro-poor initiative. Secretary Acuzar emphasized the program’s direct impact on low-income Filipinos, particularly informal settler families (ISFs) who are prioritized beneficiaries.
“The impact of EO 34 will be directly felt by our underprivileged countrymen, ISFs, the urban poor, and minimum wage earners,” Acuzar said. “They stand to benefit the most from this program.”
With the IRR signed and published in a national newspaper, the “Pambansang Pabahay” program is poised for faster implementation. This paves the way for achieving its goal of providing decent and affordable housing for all Filipinos. (AVS/PIA-NCR)
