DHSUD: Housing payment relief in place amid energy crisis

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is implementing shelter-related financial relief programs in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ease the impact of the Middle East crisis on Filipino families.

In a statement, the DHSUD said the financial relief includes a three-month moratorium on housing payments under the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC). 

“Sa gitna ng energy crisis na nararanasan natin, mahalaga po na mabigyan natin ng kahit kaunting ginhawa ang ating mga kababayan – sa kanilang mga bayarin sa pabahay. Ito po ay bahagi ng ating whole-of-government response sa direktiba ni Pangulong Marcos Jr.,” DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said. 

(Amid the energy crisis that we are facing, it is important to give our countrymen even a bit of relief – through their housing payments. This is part of our whole-of-government response to President Marcos Jr.’s directive.) 

“Patuloy po ang DHSUD sa pagsusulong ng mga programang makakatulong maibsan ang epekto ng krisis sa ating mga kababayan,” he added.

(The DHSUD continues to advance programs that will help mitigate the effect of the crisis on our countrymen.)

Under the NHMFC moratorium program, all eligible borrowers nationwide will automatically be covered for a three-month period from May 1 to July 31, 2026, without the need to file an application.

Around 50,000 member-beneficiaries may avail of the moratorium, which will allow them to temporarily suspend their monthly amortization payments without incurring penalties or additional interest. 

Loan terms will be correspondingly extended based on the duration of the moratorium. 

Earlier, the Pag-IBIG Fund approved a special benefits package for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) repatriated due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Under the approved benefits package, qualified OFW members may apply to withdraw up to 100% of their Pag-IBIG regular savings, including their employee share, employer share, and dividends earned even before its 20-year maturity.

They may also withdraw up to 100% of their Modified Pag-IBIG II or MP2 Savings, inclusive of returns earned even before its 5-year maturity; or avail of a three-month moratorium on Pag-IBIG Housing Loan payments, free from interest and penalties and with loan term extended by three months.

As of February 2026, Pag-IBIG Fund has close to 900,000 registered OFW members in the Middle East. 

The DHSUD stressed that these initiatives form part of a broader strategy to protect Filipino families from the economic pressures brought about by the energy crisis while supporting vulnerable sectors such as repatriated OFWs. 

“Sa panahon ng krisis, ang pabahay ay hindi lamang tungkol sa tahanan kundi sa seguridad at dignidad ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Patuloy pong aagapay ang DHSUD upang tumulong, lalo na sa mga kababayan nating higit na nangangailangan,” Aliling said.

(In times of crisis, housing is not just about having a home, but the security and dignity of each Filipino family. The DHSUD will continue to help our countrymen in most need.) — JMA, GMA News