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In a compelling presentation at the 2nd socialized housing summit, Buboy Magahis highlighted the pressing need for incorporating people’s plans into the Philippines’ Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program, advocating for a more inclusive and sustainable approach to address the nation’s housing crisis. Hosted by ACSent and SEDPI at Ateneo de Manila University, the summit brought together voices from various sectors to forge actionable paths toward resolving housing challenges.

Magahis, representing the grassroots organization Kilos Maralita, shared poignant narratives of families living in peril along riverbanks, emphasizing the transformative potential of people’s plans in crafting viable housing solutions. Through a video presentation, attendees witnessed firsthand the community’s journey from the brink of eviction to the realization of their right to dignified housing, underscoring the importance of their active participation in the planning process.

Central to Magahis’s message were the following recommendations to enhance the 4PH program:

Integrate People’s Plan: Advocating for the inclusion of comprehensive people’s plans in 4PH, Magahis stressed the necessity of community involvement in housing projects, ensuring that the solutions are tailored to the actual needs and capabilities of the urban poor.
Provide Capital Subsidy: Recognizing the financial limitations of the target beneficiaries, he suggested that the government should offer a capital subsidy to reduce the loan amount, making it more accessible for low-income families to secure housing under the socialized housing bracket.
Develop Multi-Use Spaces: Magahis proposed the inclusion of commercial spaces within housing developments to generate additional income. This innovative approach would enable homeowners to fund the maintenance of their buildings, thereby ensuring the sustainability of the housing projects.
Site Development as Counterpart of Local Government Units To further reduce the cost of construction, local government units should shoulder site development so that this is not passed on to the homeowners making the houses more affordable.
Facilitate a One-Stop-Shop for Requirements Processing: To streamline the often cumbersome process of acquiring housing, a unified platform for processing all necessary requirements was recommended, simplifying access for potential beneficiaries.
Explore Rental Housing Concepts: Acknowledging the diversity of the urban poor’s financial capacities, he called for the development of rental housing models to accommodate those unable to afford home ownership.
Institutionalize Property Management in Socialized Housing: To ensure the effective management of housing estates and the generation of income for maintenance needs, Magahis emphasized the importance of community involvement and management through institutionalizing property management in housing plans.

Magahis’s presentation at the summit served as a powerful call to action, urging policymakers, developers, and community leaders to recognize the vital role of the urban poor in shaping their housing futures. As the Philippines grapples with a significant housing backlog, the integration of people’s plans in the 4PH program emerges as a crucial step toward building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban communities.

The Imperative Integration of People’s Plans in 4PH Housing Program

Manila, Philippines – At the 2nd Socialized Housing Summit held at Ateneo de Manila University, Senator Risa Hontiveros delivered a compelling speech, outlining the dire need for innovative and inclusive solutions to the Philippines’ housing crisis. Addressing a gathering of developers, microfinance institutions, academes and housing advocates, Senator Hontiveros emphasized the dream of every Filipino to own a home, a dream currently threatened by the soaring costs of living.

In her address, the senator praised the collaborative efforts embodied in the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pamilyang Pilipino program (4PH), designed to offer affordable homes to low-income families. This initiative represents a partnership between the government, banks, and private companies, aiming to construct homes more sustainably and inclusively.

Highlighting the attractiveness of 4PH for private developers, Senator Hontiveros detailed the program’s innovative approach, including financial support from Pag-IBIG Fund, guaranteed buyers, swift payments, and legal incentives. These mechanisms are intended to stimulate the construction of affordable housing with minimal capital exposure for the private sector.

However, Senator Hontiveros did not shy away from addressing the challenges facing the 4PH program, including concerns over the equitable distribution of subsidies and the need for the program to genuinely reach the most needy. She called for a greater focus on marginalized communities, who are often bypassed or threatened by such housing initiatives.

The senator’s speech also underscored the potential for microfinance institutions and real estate developers to cooperate in housing construction and financing, provided a favorable and enabling environment is created. She cited a survey by the Microfinance Association of the Philippines, which found a high demand among clients for upgrading their homes through microfinance loans, revealing an untapped Php80 billion housing finance opportunity.

Senator Hontiveros championed the cause of incremental housing and low-cost, self-built housing as legitimate modes of compliance with the balanced housing law. She called on Secretary Acuzar and industry partners to support innovative materials and building techniques to ensure homes are both resilient and affordable.

The senator’s vision extends beyond financial and material aspects; it encompasses creating innovative business strategies and collaborations that make project models easily replicable. She stressed the importance of community, technology, and partnerships with government and industry to address the housing needs of Filipinos.

Senator Hontiveros’s speech at the 2nd Socialized Housing Summit is a call to action for all stakeholders to work together towards creating sustainable and inclusive housing solutions. By leveraging innovative financing, technology, and partnerships, there is hope for addressing the Philippines’ housing crisis, ensuring that the dream of home ownership becomes a reality for every Filipino.

As the summit continues, the insights shared by Senator Hontiveros serve as a catalyst for further discussions and initiatives aimed at overcoming the challenges in the housing sector. Her advocacy for equitable, innovative, and community-centered solutions highlights the urgent need for a collective effort in bridging the housing gap in the Philippines.