President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday led the inspection of a housing project in San Fernando, Pampanga where he renewed his administration’s commitment to address the housing backlog in the country.
During the inspection of the Crystal Peak States project, Marcos said the government is aiming to build one million houses per year until the end of his term.
He also lauded the simultaneous launching of government housing projects in the province under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program.
The 4PH program is one of the priorities of the administration.
“This program aims to build houses near facilities that are needed to have a productive way of life,” Marcos said adding that many Filipino families are expected to benefit from these comfortable and affordable houses.
Marcos said the national government is working with local government units (LGUs) in the country to achieve the government’s housing target.
He also thanked the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), the San Fernando City government and the Social Housing Finance Corp. (SFHC) for spearheading the project.
Located in Barangay Del Carmen, Crystal Peak States is a 9.8-hectare multistory project that can shelter more than 8,300 families both from the public and private sectors, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), as well as police and military personnel.
The housing project, being developed by SFHC, is composed of 30 12-story buildings with a mix of 25- and 28-square meter units.
The project also has shophouses, commercial areas, clubhouses, basketball courts and swimming pools.
The housing project under 4PH in nearby Minalin and Candaba were also presented to the President by the respective local chief executives, which they said could benefit more than 10,000 Kapampangans from various sectors.
The St. Andrews Residences will be built on a 5.7-hectare land in Barangay Mandasig, Candaba, Pampanga.
It will be composed of 18 mid-rise buildings with around 5,000 units.
On the other hand, the Minalin Housing Project will be situated on a 7-hectare land in Bgy. Sta. Maria, where around 24 low and mid-rise buildings will be constructed with housing units totaling 5,016.
The three projects are expected to significantly reduce Pampanga’s housing need pegged by officials at 91,000 units.
The DHSUD leads the implementation of the Pambansang Pabahay, which aims to address the 6.5 million housing backlog in the country.
The housing agency has so far signed more than 150 memoranda of understanding (MOU) under the program, which will be carried out in 28 locations across the Philippines. (PNA)