The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) on Monday opened this year’s celebration of the National Shelter Month, highlighting President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

With the theme Pambansang Pabahay: Matibay na saligan ng mapayapang pamayanan, DHSUD emphasized that having decent yet affordable homes provide stability and security to a family.

“Sa pagkakaroon ng sariling tahanan na disente at ligtas, ang ating mga kababayan ay nagiging mas produktibong miyembro ng komunidad (By having their own decent and safe home, our citizens become more productive members of the community),” DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said.

“Yan po ang misyon natin sa pagsusulong ng Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program ng ating mahal na Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr. –ang mabigyan ng disente at abot-kayang tahanan ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino para sa ikabubuti ng kanilang pamumuhay (That is our mission in promoting the National Housing for the Filipino Program of our dear President Bongbong Marcos Jr. — to give every Filipino family a decent and affordable home for the betterment of their lifestyle),” he added.

On Monday, DHSUD kicked off the celebration of the National Shelter Month (NSM) 2023 with the launching of housing exhibit at its Central Office in Quezon City, in collaboration with partner-developers and key shelter agencies (KSAs).

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte attended as guest of honor and speaker during the opening ceremony.

Various shelter-related activities were lined up by the technical working group, headed by Undersecretary Randy Escolango.

Officials of the DHSUD and its KSAs are expected to appear in various media channels to discuss the essence as well as the upcoming activities of NSM 2023.

The DHSUD Regional Offices have also prepared activities for the whole month of October with the participation of KSAs and other stakeholders.

In support to the NSM, the first-ever Philippine Urban Forum is also slated on Oct. 5-6 at the Philippine International Convention Center, with the theme “Transforming our cities and building resilient communities”.

An online forum is set before the culmination activity toward the end of the month.

So far, around 20 projects under the “Pambansang Pabahay” are in various phases of development and construction in different parts of the country. (PNA)