DHSUD, UPLB eyeing new rental housing under Expanded 4PH

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the University of the Philippines – Los Baños (UPLB) are exploring the possibility of another rental housing project under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

According to a DHSUD statement on Sunday, UPLB chancellor Jose Camacho Jr. and other top university officials presented their proposed housing projects to address the shelter needs of low income campus workers and informal settler families (ISFs) to DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling during an exploratory meeting at UPLB on Thursday.

Aliling cited the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) recently signed by the DHSUD and the UP Diliman administration that will pave the way for the construction of Pook Marilag Residences, the pilot rental housing scheme under the Expanded 4PH.

“Patuloy ang pagpapalawig natin sa Expanded 4PH alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. para mas marami pang pamilyang Pilipino ang ating matulungan magkaroon ng disente, ligtas at abot kayang pabahay. At dito sa UPLB, aakma ang rental housing scheme para ma-address natin ng agaran ang inyong mga housing concern,” he said.

(We are continuing to bolster our Expanded 4PH in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. so that we can help more Filipino families to have decent, safe, and affordable homes. And here in UPLB, the rental housing scheme can immediately address your housing concerns.)

“Prayoridad sa Expanded 4PH ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang mga nasa danger zones kagaya ng mga tabing-ilog at matatarik na bahagi ng kabundukan, kaya asahan po ninyo ang buong suporta ng DHSUD sa inyong proyekto,” he added.

(The priority of the Expanded 4PH is the safety of our countrymen, especially those in danger zones like those living on riverbanks and steep portions of mountains. So you can be assured of the DHSUD’s full support for your project.)

The UPLB management said their urgent concerns included the housing requirement of lower income administrative employees and ISFs living in the campus, especially those in danger zones.

Aliling said the UPLB can just replicate the UP Diliman project. The DHSUD team presented the UP Diliman master development plan to the UPLB administration to expedite the process.

The Pook Marilag Residences is expected to begin construction by early 2026.

The UPLB officials welcomed Aliling’s suggestion and immediately identified three possible sites for their proposed housing projects.

“Malaking bagay po ang tulong ng DHSUD para matugunan naming ang problema sa pabahay ng aming mga admin personnel na nasa low income bracket, at iyung mga informal settlers sa loob,” Camacho said.

(The DHSUD will be a big help to help us address the problem of housing for our admin personnel in the low income bracket as well as informal settlers on campus.) — JMA, GMA Integrated News