DHSUD includes high-density housing as option in 4PH Program

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has integrated high-density housing (HDH) – or multi-storey residential housing – in the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program as an added housing option for informal settler families (ISFs).

In Department Order 2025-021, the DHSUD included the HDH component in the Expanded 4PH to address challenges posed by the limited availability of land and high urban density.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said this will be a huge boost to the government’s flagship housing program and will help improve the standard of living of ISFs in urban areas.

“Sa pagkakasama ng high-density housing sa Expanded 4PH Program, magbubukas ito ng mas maraming oportunidad na magkasariling bahay ang mga kababayan nating informal settler families,” Aliling said in a statement over the weekend.

(The inclusion of high-density housing in the Expanded 4PH Program will enable our informal settler families to have more opportunities to have a house of their own.)

“Tugon pa rin ito sa utos ng ating Pangulong Marcos Jr. na tutukan ang mga mahihirap na kababayan para magkaroon ng sariling ligtas at matibay na tahanan,” he added.

(This is in response to the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to find ways to help our poor countrymen have their own safe, sturdy home.)

The HDH component is a redevelopment strategy that focuses on accommodating a significant number of informal settler families in multi-storey residential buildings.

This may be implemented either by in-city or near site relocation or a land sharing arrangement.

The HDH component of the Expanded 4PH will be implemented by the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC).

“We have several successful projects under this scheme and we have improved several policies to significantly enhance the implementation side,” Aliling said.

“Maraming pamilya na ang nabago ang buhay dahil sa high-density housing. Nakikita natin ito ngayon na malaking tulong para makapagpatayo ng mas maraming disenteng tahanan para sa may dignidad na pamumuhay para sa ating mga kababayan,” he added.

(The lives of many families have changed because of high-density housing. We see this as a big help in building more decent homes to support a more dignified way of living for our countrymen.)

The beneficiaries of the high-density housing component of the Expanded 4PH Program are families living in areas along waterways in highly urbanized cities of Metro Manila.

As one of the DHSUD’s attached agencies, the SHFC will work with community associations in facilitating the HDH component.

Community associations will assist the SHFC in identifying ISF beneficiaries for the HDH projects and ensuring that eligible households are properly prioritized and included. — JMA, GMA Integrated News