Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling on Thursday visited a Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) site, to look into the situation of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) family beneficiaries.
In an interview, Gatchalian said the DSWD and DHSUD has an ongoing partnership which allows self-sufficient 4Ps families to access the latter’s 4PH program.
He said the provision of accessible housing projects as one of the goals of the Marcos administration to ensure that every 4Ps household will have a comfortable life after their exit from the program.
“Ininstruct kami ng Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na bigyan ng puwang yung mga 4Ps graduates kasi gusto nya mabuo yung istorya — mula sa pag-angat sa kahirapan, sa livelihood, sa edukasyon ng kanilang mga anak, ngayon, sa pabahay (We were instructed by President Marcos to provide an opening for 4Ps graduates because he wants to complete the story — starting with getting out of poverty, livelihood, education of their children, and now, housing),” the DSWD chief said.
“Una nairaos natin, sa pamamagitan ng 4Ps, mula sa kahirapan, ngayon, mayroon na silang mas sustainable na pamamaraan ng pamumuhay kasi may bahay na sila (We have taken them out of poverty through 4Ps, now they have a more sustainable way of life because they already have a house). I think that’s the aspiration of every Filipino family — ang makaangat mula sa kahirapan, magkaroon ng economic stability, at ng sariling bahay (to rise out of poverty, have economic stability and have their own house),” Gatchalian said.
The 4PH murang pabahay (affordable housing) units are designed for 4Ps households that have achieved self-sufficiency and are capable of sustaining monthly amortization payments.
Gatchalian said this initiative aims to strengthen beneficiaries’ sense of responsibility, emphasizing that the program is not just a form of assistance but a road to empowerment.
During the site visit, Gatchalian and Aliling also visited 4Ps graduates Nessie Almonte and Aurilia Carbonell to personally congratulate them on their transfer to their new homes and to distribute housewarming gifts.
Almonte, a solo parent from San Mateo, Rizal, said she was able to acquire an affordable financing arrangement for her housing unit through the 4PH.
“Masaya kasi naghuhulog ako para sa amin na talaga, para sa amin ng mga anak ko. Hindi na ako nangungupahan tsaka mas mababa ang monthly ko kumpara roon sa dating inuupahan ko (I am happy because I am paying monthly for our own house, for me and my children. I am no longer a tenant, and my monthly amortization is lower compared to waht I was renting before),” Nessie said.
Joining the two Cabinet members were Assistant Secretaries Marites Maristela and Elaine Fallarcuna of the DSWD’s Conditional Cash Transfer Group (CCTG), and Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG).
Also present were DHSUD Undersecretary Eduardo Robles Jr. and San Mateo Mayor Bartolome Rivera Jr.
Established in 2008 and later institutionalized under Republic Act 11310, the 4Ps serves as the Philippine government’s flagship anti-poverty program, prioritizing human capital investment in the health, nutrition and education of children from poor households.
The 4PH, on the other hand, is the government’s primary housing initiative, designed by DHSUD to offer affordable housing options for low-income and working-class families. (PNA)
