House commits P10 billion in 2025 for Pambansang Pabahay
Credit to Author: Elizabeth Marcelo| Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0800
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) on Wednesday announced that the House of Representatives committed to allocate P10 billion as interest support to the administration’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program for 2025.
The DHSUD said Speaker Martin Romualdez made the commitment during the inspection of an ongoing 4PH project in San Mateo, Rizal on Tuesday.
Romualdez supposedly relayed to DHSUD officials that he and House appropriations committee chair Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co already agreed to source P10-billion funding for next year as interest support to the Pambansang Pabahay.
In a statement, DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar welcomed Romualdez’s commitment, stressing that congressional support, particularly on funding, is vital to the sustainability and success of the 4PH Program even beyond the current administration.
“The support of Congress is vital in the success and sustainability of 4PH. With the funding allocation, and of course, by institutionalizing the program, we can be assured that the 4PH will continue even after this administration,” Acuzar said in Filipino.
There are pending bills, both in the House and the Senate, which propose the institutionalization of 4PH through legislation to ensure continuity, especially in terms of funding the interest subsidy for beneficiaries.
“I am hoping that these measures seeking to institutionalize the Pambansang Pabahay will soon be passed into law,” Acuzar said.
Meanwhile, during the project inspection in San Mateo town, Romualdez commended the inclusion of several amenities, including covered court and swimming pool, in the 4PH project.
“I am happy to know that the project entails not only the construction of housing units. The project also includes a basketball court, swimming pool, clubhouse and other amenities which, before, can only be seen in subdivisions and condominiums,” Romualdez said.
“This is in line with the vision of the President – decent housing for Filipinos. A community where they can live safely, peacefully and with dignity,” he added.?The 4PH project in San Mateo aims to construct 4,000 condominium-type housing units.