To sustain the positive momentum of the nationwide rollout of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s flagship Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is sending key officials down to the grassroots level to engage and attract more partners, particularly local government units (LGUs).

“Each official will be assigned to specific areas to closely monitor ongoing projects,” DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said in a recent executive committee meeting, as quoted in a news release over the weekend. “This will enable us to focus more on the expeditious implementation of the flagship program throughout the country.”

He said the national government needs to help the LGUs and other stakeholders and partners to a better and faster propagation of the national housing program.

Acuzar said such setup will also help address local concerns and issues confronting the actual execution on the ground of the flagship program meant to address the housing backlog.

“Malaking bagay din na mismong matataas na opisyales ng DHSUD ang nakakausap at nakakaharap ng ating mga partners para malaman ng taong bayan na seryoso tayo sa pagpapatupad ng 4PH (It would be better if our high DHSUD officials will be able to talk to and face our partners so that the people will know that we are serious about the 4PH implementation,)” Acuzar said.

The DHSUD-4PH Project Management Office, headed by Undersecretary Garry De Guzman, reported that more than 30 projects are now in various stages of development and construction all over the country.

A total of 195 LGUs have so far expressed intention to participate in the 4PH.

The DHSUD officials continue to engage various national government agencies, LGUs and the private sector, particularly contractors, developers and banks.

DHSUD’s key shelter agencies are also active in the 4PH implementation.

The Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) has started processing and releasing developmental loan to contractors of 4PH projects, further boosting the ongoing implementation of the flagship program.

The Social Housing Finance Corporation is also implementing projects in various parts of the country. (PNA)