Thirty housing projects under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) Housing program are underway in Western Visayas.

The Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD) Western Visayas reported during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on Tuesday that the 4PH projects are in Aklan with one, Antique with four, Capiz and Iloilo with eight each, and nine in Negros Occidental.

Of these, 29 are in various stages, while one project, the Asenso Yuhum Residences in Bacolod City, is in its production stage.

DHSUD regional director for Western Visayas Eva Maria Marfil said the Yuhum Asenso Village-Arao in Barangay Vista Alegre is one of the first 4PH projects to be constructed in the country.

When completed, it will have 25 buildings with over 4,000 units.

She added that the first two buildings are already completed, and construction is ongoing for the third and fourth towers.

“The first two towers already have applicants. Their folders are already with the Pag-IBIG for processing of their individual loans. Hopefully, it will be the first in the country to get approved if there are no hitches,” she said.

Under the program, the payment for the units will through Pag-IBIG, which charges 6.25 percent interest annually.

However, the national government will pay the 5 percent, so DHSUD has to ensure the project will benefit qualified recipients, Marfil said.

“Our targets for the Pambansang Bahay sa Pilipino are first-time home buyers,” she added.

She said they also invite developers and contractors to partner with DHSUD. Other government financing institutions, the private sector, and private banks are also on board the program.

Western Visayas needs to address around 400,000 housing needs as of the 2021 data, including over 33,000 in Aklan; 52,000 in Antique; 35,000 in Capiz; 6,000 in Guimaras; 136,000 in Iloilo province; 164,000 in Negros Occidental; 35,000 in Bacolod City; and 30,000 in Iloilo City. (PNA)