PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM) and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar on Wednesday led the “mega groundbreaking” of six housing projects in Bulacan province, which could generate up to 30,000 shelter units.

The “historic” simultaneous launching is another testament to the continuing rollout of the administration’s flagship “Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing” (4PH) Program aimed at building 1 million housing units annually until 2028 to address the country’s “housing backlog” pegged at more than 6.5 million units.

A total of 12,563 housing units will be constructed during the initial phase of the six projects. But based on the submitted master development plans, the projects could generate about 30,000 shelters when expanded into additional phases.

Several beneficiaries expressed their gratitude as the administration’s flagship housing program reached the grassroots and their respective areas. They branded 4PH as a “huge step” towards realizing their “dream” of owning a house of their own.

Farmer Ruben Avila Sr., from San Jose Del Monte City said, “Pinakamaganda nga ‘yung programa na para magkaroon (ng bahay) ang mga tao na walang bahay, lalong-lalo na ako, wala akong sariling lupa, walang sariling bahay kaya nagpapasalamat (ako sa) Presidente kung magkakaroon kami o ako man lang o kaming lahat ditong mga magsasaka.”

“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa Pangulong BBM… at nabigyan kami ng ganitong pagkakataon na magkaroon ng pabahay dito sa aming lugar.

Nagpapasalamat po kami dahil sa bandang huli, siyempre yung mga anak namin magkakaroon ng matatawag na sariling kanila po, para sa amin,” said Marissa Sepato, a volunteer from Barangay Balato, Pulilan, Bulacan.

Lovelio Mendoza, a driver from Bgy. Balatong 8, Pulilan, Bulacan said, “Ako po ay natuwa, nagkaroon po ako ng pagkakataon na puwedeng mapili, mabigyan ng pagkakataong magkaroon ng slot nga po dito sa pabahay. Ako po ay nagpapasalamat sa ating butihing Presidente na si Bongbong Marcos dahil po sa mga ganitong project na nabibigyan niya ng tulong ‘yung mga katulad naming volunteer worker na mga walang sapat na kakayahan para magkaroon ng sariling bahay o tahanan. Dito po siguro marami siyang matutulungan na mabigyan ng pagkakataon po.”

The groundbreaking ceremonies were conducted in San Jose Del Monte City, Pulilan, San Rafael – where President Marcos Jr. and Acuzar led the events, and in Pandi, Guiguinto, and Malolos City, where DHSUD key officials, along with LGU executives, presided over the activities.

Also in attendance were key shelter agency heads and government financial institution executives.

In Bgy. Gaya-gaya, San Jose Del Monte City, the Rising City Residential Project composed of nine (9) eight-story buildings with an initial target of at least 1,890 housing units and commercial area on a 6.9-hectare (ha) was the first site inaugurated.

This was followed by the groundbreaking ceremony in Bgy. Caingin in San Rafael town for the 7-ha San Rafael Heights Development Project, where 3,920 residential condominium units will be initially constructed.

Then the President and Acuzar proceeded to Pulilan town for the inauguration of the Mom’s Ville Homeowners Association Incorporated project in Bgy. Penabatan and will be composed initially of eight ten-story residential buildings with 1,920 housing units in a 2-ha property.

Meanwhile, three other groundbreaking ceremonies in Bulacan were simultaneously conducted and publicly aired – the 12-ha Pandi Terraces in Bgy. Bagong Barrio, Pandi, with its proposed 4,050 units; the 2-ha Municipal Government of Guiguinto Employees Housing in Bgy. Sta. Cruz, Guiguinto, with 108 units; and the 2.6-ha Pambansang Pabahay para sa Maloleño Program 2023-2025 in Bgy. Santor, Malolos City, with 675 units. Some DHSUD executives led the last three events.

Acuzar congratulated the local chief executives for their “fruitful” collaboration that would soon fulfill the basic need of families in Bulacan to have “dignified” shelters in well-planned communities.

“This is another solid testament of our beloved President’s commitment to uplift the lives of our kababayans through decent yet affordable housing,” Acuzar said.

“I am very thankful to President Marcos for his all-out support of 4PH. I also commend LGUs (local government units) for their cooperation and eagerness in pursuing this endeavor that will not only present affordable and resilient homes to Filipino families but will also elevate their quality of living as they can now rest assured that they will live in safe and self-sustaining communities without moving away from their hometowns and sources of livelihood,” the housing czar added.

Empowered by Republic Act (RA) 11201, or the “Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Act,” the 4PH Program is part of the DHSUD’s thrust to fulfill its mandate to develop and adopt a national strategy to address the proper and timely provision of adequate and affordable shelter to Filipino families.

Similarly, the DHSUD – as the primary agency responsible for the management of housing and urban development in the country – is tasked with policy creation, regulation, stakeholder coordination, and progress monitoring of the projects under the 4PH Program.

Under the new housing program, the DHSUD is also tasked to ensure the alignment of the policies, programs, and projects of its attached agencies to facilitate the achievement of the program’s objective.

So far, more than 130 memoranda of understanding (MOU) have been signed by DHSUD with various LGUs from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao since the launching of 4PH last September.