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MANILA, Philippines — Newly appointed Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling has vowed to deliver an “improved and expanded” Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, with a renewed focus on horizontal housing developments.
In a ceremonial turnover of leadership on Monday, Aliling announced that while the 4PH Program will continue, it will undergo improvements and expansion to include new modalities, particularly horizontal projects such as townhouses and single-detached units.
“We will prioritize the preparation of the 4PH Guidelines for Horizontal Developments. In doing this, we can expect 4PH numbers to improve significantly. We will prioritize the release of the IRR (implementing rules and regulations) for horizontal developments,” he said.
Horizontal housing usually involves single-detached units, townhouses and other housing designs commonly constructed in larger areas.
This change in direction marks a departure from the vertical, condominium-style housing approach emphasized by Aliling’s predecessor, Jose Rizalino Acuzar, now reassigned as presidential adviser on Pasig River development.
Aliling, a seasoned engineer and head of a prominent construction management firm, also appealed to the private sector to share technical expertise and assist the DHSUD in addressing housing backlogs.
He committed to holding monthly dialogues with developers to resolve issues hampering the rollout of the program.
Launched in mid-2022 under President Marcos, the 4PH was initially set to deliver one million socialized housing units annually – a target meant to address the country’s 6.5-million-unit housing backlog.
The yearly target, however, was not achieved due to various challenges, including typhoons and procedural bottlenecks, among others.
During a press briefing last Friday, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin clarified that while there were no allegations of corruption against Acuzar, the reassignment followed a broader evaluation of agency performance after the 2025 midterm elections, where public dissatisfaction with basic services became apparent.
“To us… because of the results of the elections it’s time for the President to take him (Acuzar) out there and bring another one who might make a better performance,” Bersamin said.
In a statement, Acuzar admitted that the implementation of the 4PH Program was met with many challenges but that the program remains a vital tool for the administration in uplifting the lives of the poor.
“I believe that despite the challenges we faced in pursuing the 4PH, in the long term, this can help resolve the dire need for decent housing, especially for the poor,” Acuzar said in Filipino.
Meanwhile, to improve service delivery, Aliling pledged to fully digitalize DHSUD operations before the end of Marcos’ term, starting with the formation of a technical working group to streamline permitting and regulatory procedures.
He also promised to establish one-stop shops nationwide to ease housing-related transactions and implement a “zero-tolerance” policy against corruption.
“This (fight against corruption) is the most important for me and for our President Marcos… We will have zero-tolerance against corruption,” Aliling said in Filipino, addressing the employees of DHSUD.
While the agency has fallen short of early targets, Aliling said there remains ample opportunity to course-correct in the second half of the administration.
“For all those saying that there’s no hope for DHSUD: the fight is not yet over. We still have the second half (of the Marcos administration). The DHSUD can still keep up. We will do our best to make DHSUD the most transparent and most efficient department of the government the soonest time possible,” he said.
Government revamp
Amid the administration’s ongoing reorganization, a senior official of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) voiced support for Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo, calling him a “trusted ally” crucial to the peace process in the Bangsamoro region.
Ustadz Abdulkarim Tan Misuari, MNLF vice chairman and acting chairman, praised Lagdameo’s active involvement in implementing the 1996 Final Peace Agreement and strengthening ties between the national government and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“In this period of political transition, we urge the preservation of continuity and wisdom within the President’s circle of advisers,” Misuari said. “The ongoing peace process in the Bangsamoro requires steady hands and trusted allies. Secretary Lagdameo is one of them.”
He emphasized that Lagdameo’s role has not been “ceremonial, but substantive,” and credited him with offering “sound judgment and continuity in the Office of the President.”
Lagdameo was among officials who submitted courtesy resignations last week, following President Marcos’ directive to reassess agency heads after midterm election results showed public frustration with service delivery.
While some officials were retained, Marcos is expected to continue evaluating those holding key roles in governance and development.
Meanwhile, energy consumer advocacy group Kuryente.org lashed out at former Energy secretary Raphael Lotilla, blaming him for persistently high electricity rates and failing to reform the sector in favor of consumers.
“He failed to address the perennial red and yellow alerts every dry season and miserably failed to find ways to reduce electricity prices,” said Bas Umali, Kuryente.org national coordinator.
Lotilla has been reassigned to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, a move the group viewed as overdue.
Umali said they expect the President to appoint a successor at the Department of Energy (DOE) with a clear commitment to public accountability.
Unlike Lotilla, the next DOE chief should have a strong understanding of energy justice with an aim to balance affordability, access and sustainability, Umali added.
Electricity costs in Metro Manila rose again last month, with Manila Electric Co. rates climbing by P0.72 per kilowatt-hour due to higher generation and transmission charges.
Kuryente.org noted that consumers, especially those in poor communities, continue to suffer from pricing structures that lack transparency.
“For us consumers, current electricity prices are far from being reasonable,” Umali stressed.
The group urged DOE officer-in-charge Sharon Garin to prioritize longstanding structural reforms, including more transparent rate-setting, rural electrification and inclusive dialogue among stakeholders.
According to Umali, she must address the longstanding concerns around electricity pricing and enhance transparency for consumers to guarantee that all communities, both urban and rural, have reliable access to power.
“Public oversight and engagement in regulatory and pricing decisions must be central to DOE’s approach moving forward,” she added. — Helen Flores, Emmanuel Tupas
