THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is optimistic that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.’s “Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino” program will go “full blast” with the initial construction of housing projects this year.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said that following the “positive” traction gained by the program, he expects the initial construction phase to commence within the first semester of 2023.

Acuzar said that actual construction of mid and high-rise buildings might take up to two years.

“I am optimistic that we can start with the construction of the projects with complete documentary and legal requirements in a few months,” the DHSUD chief said.

“And we expect to go full blast within the year,” he added.

Since its launching in September, or a few weeks after Acuzar took the helm at DHSUD, the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program has already attracted the interest of 47 local government units (LGUs) – signing memorandums of understanding (MOU) with the housing department.

Of the 47 LGUs from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, 12 had already broken ground for their housing projects.

No less than President Marcos Jr. led the latest groundbreaking ceremony in Palayan City last December 21.

The flagship housing program also got the backing of government financial institutions (GFIs) like the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund, which allocated P250 billion for the program; the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), and the Social Security System (SSS).

The program was also boosted by the support of the country’s private developers’ groups, like the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association Inc., the National Real Estate Association Inc., and the Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines.

Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives have also expressed support to the “out-of-the-box and innovative” approach of Acuzar to address the country’s housing need, pegged at more than 6.5 million units.

The Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program aims to build one million housing units every year for the next six years to bridge the growing housing gap.

“Kailangan po nating magsama-sama at magtulung-tulong upang makamit ang pangarap ng ating mga kababayan na magkaroon ng sariling tahanan na disente, ligtas at abot kaya,” Acuzar stressed.