DEPARTMENT of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling on Monday marked his first 100 days in office by implementing measures that address regulatory backlogs and expand the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program.

Aliling said he knew the biggest task before him was steering the DHSUD to the right path.

Guided by the department’s 8-Point Agenda, Aliling said “reforms and changes are palpable. Offices that were once bogged down by paperwork and outdated systems are now being transformed into hubs of efficiency and service through streamlining and digitalization initiatives.”

Since his assumption, the housing czar made it clear that business as usual would no longer be tolerated.

“All officials and employees of the agency would now have three options: shape up, step out, or be kicked out,” Aliling said.

He said his zero-backlog program has totally slashed pending cases — some dating back to 2020 — from 3,100 to 0.

DHSUD chief cites accomplishments

Aliling’s uncompromising stance against corruption quickly earned support from every corner of the housing sector including the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association and the Construction Project Management Association of the Philippines, the agency said.

“But cleaning up systems wasn’t enough; the rules needed to evolve, too. That is why, we ordered a full review of outdated laws and penalties that no longer reflected the realities of today’s housing market,” Aliling said., This news data comes from:http://www.redcanaco.com

“We need to revisit our laws and policies to ensure relevance and responsiveness in the present times. We cannot be tied to outdated policies if we want to deliver better service,” he added.

The expanded 4PH now includes horizontal or subdivision-type housing, rental housing, incremental housing, and the enhanced Community Mortgage Program for organized communities.

“In compliance with President Marcos Jr.’s directive, we introduced more modalities under 4PH to have more options to offer to our beneficiaries depending on their needs and capacity. We’ve transformed 4PH into a beneficiary-focused program,” Aliling said.

As a result, at least 42 developers pledged more than 250,000 housing units, a sign of trust in the program’s direction.

Through a department order, the DHSUD said it simplified housing applications, giving families the option to apply directly to developers, the Pag-IBIG Fund, or DHSUD itself.