DHSUD orders moratorium on housing loan payments amid Mindanao earthquake

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) on Wednesday ordered a moratorium on housing amortization payments and the activation of its regional shelter clusters to mitigate the impact of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit Mindanao.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling directed the DHSUD’s key shelter agencies (KSAs) – Pag-IBIG Fund, National Housing Authority (NHA), Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), and the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC) – to implement the moratorium on housing loan amortization for qualified affected beneficiaries.

Each KSA’s guidelines on the moratorium and its coverage will be announced soon.

“Alinsunod sa utos ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na agarang maghatid ng tulong sa ating mga kababayang naapektuhan ng lindol, inatasan natin ang ating mga key shelter agencies na simulan ang pagpapatupad ng moratorium sa housing amortization para sa mga kwalipikadong benepisyaryo. Sa panahon ng sakuna, importanteng mabawasan ang alalahanin ng ating mga kababayan. Ang prayoridad ay ang kanilang kaligtasan,” Aliling said in a statement.

(In accordance with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to extend immediate help to our earthquake-hit countrymen, we tasked our key shelter agencies to begin enforcing a moratorium on housing amortization for qualified beneficiaries. In times of calamity, it is important to ease the burden of our countrymen. Our priority is our safety.)

The DHSUD also told its Regional Offices to activate its shelter clusters for preparedness and to facilitate the immediate delivery of shelter-related interventions.

In a Facebook post, the SHFC said it is implementing a moratorium on monthly amortization payments from June 8 to July 7, 2026 for qualified member-beneficiaries, subject to extension depending on the severity of damages.

“To Community Associations affected by the recent 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Mindanao, please know that your safety and well-being are our top priorities,” the SHFC said.

The NHMFC, for its part, extended its ongoing moratorium on housing loan amortization payments for qualified borrowers – which was set to end in July 2026 – by another three months.

“Under this program, qualified borrowers may opt to temporarily defer their monthly amortization payments for another three (3) months from August to October 2026 without incurring penalties, surcharges, or interests during the moratorium period, The corresponding loan term will be adjusted and extended for a duration equivalent to the payment suspension,” the agency said in a separate Facebook post.

“This extended moratorium is more than a payment relief measure – it is National Home Mortgage’s response in standing with our Filipino families during this challenging time to give them the flexibility to rebuild and move forward,” NHMFC President Renato Tobias said.

Borrowers who opt to continue settling their amortization payments during the moratorium period may still pay at all NHMFC offices or through its accredited collection partners. Payments made for updated accounts during the moratorium period shall be treated as advance payments.

For its part, Pag-IBIG Fund and the NHA immediately deployed teams to provide immediate assistance to victims of the destructive earthquake.

Two Pag-IBIG on Wheels Mobile Branch were sent to General Santos City and Dipolog City to assist affected members, while NHA teams were dispatched to conduct ground assessment for the processing of emergency shelter assistance.

Pag-IBIG Fund also advised housing loan borrowers in affected areas that they may avail themselves of insurance benefits under the Pag-IBIG Housing Loan Non-Life Insurance Claim attached to their loans.

Eligible members whose homes sustained earthquake-related damage may file insurance claims to help cover repair and rehabilitation costs.

Aliling also directed the DHSUD Regional Office 12 to conduct a rapid ground assessment of affected communities, particularly in areas placed under the state of calamity.

“Patuloy tayong nakikipag-ugnayan sa mga lokal na pamahalaan at iba pang ahensya ng gobyerno upang matiyak na agad nating matugunan ang pangangailangan lalo na sa aspeto ng pabahay nang mga pamilyang apektado ng lindol,” he said.

(We continue to coordinate with local governments and other agencies to ensure that we are able to quickly respond to needs, particularly for housing and quake-affected victims.) — JMA, GMA News