Manila: Private developers on Friday expressed their approval of the new price ceiling for socialized housing jointly issued by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev). The Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) said it welcomed the issuance of Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 2025-001, signed on Dec. 1 by DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling and DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, along with the release of its implementing rules and regulations (IRR).
According to Philippines News Agency, the new price ceiling reflects current increases in the cost of land, labor, and materials, ensuring support for the production of socialized housing for both vertical and horizontal projects. The JMC is the outcome of months-long technical discussions among the DHSUD, DEPDev, and private sector groups, including the SHDA, the National Real Estate Association, the Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines, and the Chamber of Real Estate Builders Association. These organizations were part of the technical working group formed to update the policy.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling highlighted that the new ceiling addresses proposals raised by private developers and aligns with efforts to accelerate President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program. He emphasized that the JMC was the result of open, proactive, and transparent dialogue between the DHSUD and private developers, and he anticipates an increase in socialized housing production as 2026 approaches.
Aliling also mentioned that the circular was crafted with homebuyer protection in mind, noting that the minimum required size for socialized housing units has been increased to 24 square meters. Under the updated price ceiling, the maximum selling price for a socialized house-and-lot package is now set at PHP950,000, while socialized condominium units may be sold for up to PHP1.8 million.
The adjustment is in compliance with Republic Act 11201, which mandates DHSUD and the former National Economic and Development Authority (now reorganized as DEPDev) to jointly determine, review, and revise the ceiling as needed, but not more than once every two years, to reflect prevailing economic conditions.
