The Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program aims to establish livable communities by providing decent housing for the Filipino people.

Tarino, 52, a "habal-habal" (motorcycle) driver for over two decades, is embracing a new beginning with his family as he becomes a beneficiary of the 4PH Program in Maramag, Bukidnon.

"I can now say that the government is true to its words in saying that a nation's strength is upon the strength of its homes," Tarino said.

It has been Tarino’s aspiration to provide his family with a home they can call their own. However, his earnings alone were not enough to fulfill his dream. Now, with the 4PH Program, his lifelong dream is finally becoming a reality.

Fulfilling long-held aspirations

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Local Government of Maramag for a P1 billion investment in condominium-style residences.

DHSUD Assistant Secretary Daryll Bryan Villanueva said this is one of the President’s flagship programs for fostering peace and empowering communities.

"Vital to the success of the program is the need to strengthen other key shelter agencies to ensure the support and commitment of national government agencies and local government units," he said.

The DHSUD's blueprint for the project shows 96 condo-style units in a four-storey condominium, with a floor area of 27 square meters per unit, covering 2.2 hectares to house the identified needy families.

Mayor Jose Joel P. Doromal said the project aims to address the pressing need for adequate housing targeting the municipality’s low-income earners, specifically those construction workers, vendors, riverbank dwellers, and motorcycle drivers, among other identified informal settlers in town.

"We need to construct 10 condominium buildings with the LGU-donated 2.2 hectares. We could therefore have about 1,000 house units soon at the heart of Barangay Anahawon, which is just a five-minute ride away from the economic hub here in Maramag," the mayor said.

He explained that this would optimize land use while maximizing the benefits.

Meanwhile, Maramag LGU's Housing Division chief Noemie Himaya said the project seeks to solve the year-long requests of informal settlers to own homes at an affordable cost.

"In Maramag, low-income residents have long struggled to find affordable and manageable amortizations. However, a glimmer of hope emerges as this offer presents a game-changing solution. Qualified beneficiaries will now only need to pay P3,600 per month or P120 a day, subject to adjustment, over a 30-year period," Himaya said.

She added that this rare opportunity is set to alleviate the financial burden and provide a realistic path towards owning a home for those in need.

With the MOU now officially signed, the Maramag LGU is now ready to commence construction. This momentous project envisions a future where adequate housing is no longer a luxury but a fundamental right for all, promising hope and prosperity for everyone. (RLRB/PIA-10/Bukidnon)