QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- Members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) are now among the priority beneficiaries of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

This after the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) represented by Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) thru Officer-in-Charge Vice Admiral Rolando Punzalan Jr. formalized the inclusion of PCG personnel to 4PH Program--initially targeting at least 2,000 Coast Guard personnel as beneficiaries.

The MOA which is the first among the country’s uniformed services, is in line with President Marcos Jr.'s directive to include men and women  in uniform among the priorities of 4PH, according to the Housing chief.

"Kayo po  na nasa serbisyo ay laging nasa prayoridad ng ating Pangulo. Isa po sa mga utos nya sa amin ay ang isama kayo sa Pambansang Pabahay," Acuzar said during the signing ceremony on Wednesday (July 5) at the PCG Headquarters in Manila.

"Para sa akin naman po, marapat lamang na suklian namin ang inyong dedikasyon at serbisyo...maliit na bagay kumpara sa inyong mga sakripisyo para sa bayan," he added.

For his part, Vice Admiral Punzalan welcomed the partnership as a huge boost to the morale and welfare program of the PCG.

He described the MOA as a" big leap" to the already robust collaboration between DHSUD and PCG, particularly in program concerning the Pasig River.

Punzalan said the PCG is excited over the "partnership and synergy" between DHSUD and the PCG.

Apart from the PCG, DHSUD is also eyeing partnerships with the Departments of National Defense and the Interior and Local Government for the inclusion to the 4PH of men and women in uniform under the agencies. (dshud/pia-ncr)