Quezon city: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) entered into a partnership on Friday to make housing opportunities easier to reach for eligible beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

According to Philippines News Agency, the memorandum of agreement (MOA) formalizing the partnership was signed by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling at the DSWD central office in Quezon City. Under the MOA, the DSWD will be working closely with DHSUD to match eligible 4Ps beneficiaries with various housing options best suited to their economic capacities under the expanded Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH).

Gatchalian highlighted the significance of this initiative in addressing the essential needs of the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized sectors of society. He emphasized that shelter is a fundamental need, alongside money and education, and expressed satisfaction with integrating housing with the 4Ps program for the first time. He also committed to ensuring the partnership is operational as soon as possible.

The DSWD plans to start identifying eligible beneficiaries from among the 1.4 million 4Ps households that have already reached self-sufficiency. Aliling noted that the collaboration between the DSWD and DHSUD is a crucial step in realizing the vision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who has consistently advocated for making the 4PH program more accessible to the poor.

Previously, the 4PH program only offered vertical housing to 4Ps members. However, it has now expanded to include options such as house and lot, lot only, Community Mortgage Program (CMP), and rental. This expansion provides a range of housing modality programs tailored to the capacities of intended beneficiaries from 4Ps.

The 4PH is the flagship housing program of the Philippine government focused on providing affordable housing options for the bottom low-income and working-class segments.