DHSUD Strengthens Pro-Poor Housing Programs with Community Input
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is ramping up efforts to enhance pro-poor housing programs by integrating grassroots participation and community-led planning. These initiatives aim to reshape the national shelter landscape with the voices of low-income families at the forefront.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon C. Aliling emphasized the importance of people’s plans in creating inclusive housing policies during a sectoral dialogue held on June 16. The meeting gathered urban development experts and NGOs to discuss how pro-poor housing programs can better serve vulnerable communities. “The agency has been directed to adopt a more people-centric approach, prioritizing the poorest and most vulnerable families,” local leaders noted.
Inclusive Housing Policies with Community-Led Planning
Experts participating in the dialogue included former UN-Habitat official Dr. Nathaniel von Einsiedel and Ateneo de Manila University sociologist Dr. Mary Racelis. Representatives from grassroots organizations such as the Federation for the Development of the Urban Poor, Joly Homes Foundation, and LinkBuild also joined the discussions.
They focused on high-density housing and shelter proposals developed by the communities themselves. This approach allows informal settler families to take charge of designing and managing their own housing projects, fostering ownership and sustainability.
Expanding Housing Models for Diverse Needs
To reach more families, DHSUD is reviewing various housing models, including rental schemes, horizontal subdivisions, and incremental construction. This diversity reflects the country’s wide-ranging socioeconomic conditions, ensuring tailored solutions for different communities.
The Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) has been assigned to revive the Community Mortgage Program (CMP), while the National Housing Authority (NHA) will intensify pro-poor initiatives by partnering with organized communities. These efforts are part of the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program under the 4PHX framework, which promotes flexibility, inclusiveness, and participatory planning in housing delivery.
Private Sector and Academic Support Grows
Private developers have pledged over 50,000 housing units under the program’s horizontal housing component, signaling strong support for pro-poor housing programs. Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines-Diliman has shown interest in launching a rental housing initiative to further aid low-income families.
Secretary Aliling assured that DHSUD welcomes continuous input from all stakeholders. “While we are already pursuing those modalities, rest assured that DHSUD welcomes inputs from all stakeholders for the betterment of our programs, especially those that call for active participation from our beneficiaries—from project conceptualization to execution,” he said.
Through these inclusive strategies, DHSUD aims to transform the country’s housing sector by empowering communities and ensuring that the most vulnerable Filipinos have access to safe, affordable homes.
For more news and updates on pro-poor housing programs, visit Filipinokami.com.