BAGUIO CITY (PIA) - - The Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the City Government of Baguio led the groundbreaking ceremony for a   socialized housing project in Topinao in Poblacion, Tuba, Benguet on Wednesday (May 17).

A project under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino or 4PH Program, the Topinao Socialized Housing Project aims to develop 5,000 housing units in the 6.5 hectares lot purchased by the City Government of Baguio.

 Mayor Benjamin Magalong expressed gratitude to President Marcos and DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar for the realization of the project, the first in the Cordillera.

Magalong also acknowledged the support of the municipality of Tuba headed by Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan and DHSUD Assistant Secretary Krsnadi De Leon, DHSUD – CAR Regional Director Maria Amoroso, his dedicated team from the city government and their private sector partner.

Acuzar, in his keynote message read by PAGIBIG Fund CEO Marylene Acosta, congratulated the City Government of Baguio for its support to the 4PH program.

“Our partnership is now coming into fruition. Today’s event signals the start of groundworks for the Topinao housing project under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino housing Program or 4PH.”

“Layunin po ng Pambansang Pabahay ang makapagpatayo ng isang milyong pabahay kada taon sa susunod na anim na taon. Hindi lamang basta bubong sa ibabaw ng mga ulo  ng ating mga kababayan kundi mga disente at abot- kayang pabahay sa maunlad at ligtas na komyunidad,” Acuzar said.

 “Totoo po na mabigat na responsibilidad ito. Para nga sa iba, ito ay ambisyoso at imposible, 6 million homes in 6 years. Ngunit para sa akin ito ay kakayanin basta tayo magsama – sama at magtulong – tulong, lalo na kayo sa local government units. We need your support”, he said.

 “That is why I am elated that we have Mayor Magalong here today. A clear statement of Baguio City’s support to the Pambansang Pabahay. So far,  we have more than 130 partner LGUs throughout the country. A solid proof that the program is now on full swing and we are on track to address the country’s housing backlog pegged at more than 6.5 million units”, the Secretary added.

DHSUD Assistant Secretary Krsnadi De Leon shared that under the 4PH Program, the national government has already built 1.2 million housing units and signed more than 120 memoranda of understanding with various local government units.

 Other guests during the groundbreaking were DHSUD USEC Wilfredo Mallari and ASEC Tiburcio Canlas, officials and representatives of national government agencies and private institutions. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)