In compliance with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to expedite the provisions of affordable housing, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) ordered all its attached agencies to operationalize the DHSUD 8-Point Agenda.

In a memorandum signed Monday, DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling tasked the National Housing Authority (NHA), Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC), the Pag-IBIG Fund, and the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission (HSAC) with specific priority actions to operationalize the President’s instruction.

“Pursuant to the President’s directive to accelerate the provisions of affordable housing and to streamline housing-related applications and activities, all key shelter agencies are hereby directed to align, implement and operationalize the following priority actions within their respective offices,” Aliling said as quoted in a news release on Tuesday.

In particular, the NHA and SHFC were directed to immediately turn over unoccupied but completed housing projects to bona fide beneficiaries. Both agencies were also ordered to conduct an immediate inventory of all government-funded housing projects.

The Pag-IBIG Fund, on the other hand, was identified as the funder of a joint venture agreement with NHA and SHFC to accelerate the nationwide implementation of the expanded 4PH. All key shelter agencies (KSAs) were also tasked to activate technical working groups to align policies with the flagship program.

To fast-track the program implementation, Aliling ordered that all 4PH projects with pending applications must be immediately acted upon.

In connection with the streamlining of processes, all KSAs were instructed to support the establishment and operations of one-stop shops and identify internal procedures that can be integrated, and that all processes must be aligned with Anti-Red Tape Authority standards.

“All KSAs are enjoined to submit their respective status/inventory reports of all pending cases, applications and other actionable documents together with its corresponding program of action on the above –stated directives not later than 15 days from receipt hereof,” the DHSUD chief said.

The move extends the adoption and implementation of the DHSUD’s 8-Point Agenda aimed at expanding the flagship Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program to widen the coverage of beneficiaries from the working class to the poorest of the poor; fast-tracking program frameworks and implementing rules and regulations; streamlined permitting processes; full digitalization by 2028; unified effort with attached agencies; periodic dialogue with developers; protecting homebuyers, and zero tolerance for corruption.

Upon his assumption last May, Aliling laid out and immediately executed the eight-point agenda designed to operationalize President Marcos’ vision for recalibrated 4PH to widen the coverage of beneficiaries and expedite the delivery of housing units. (PNA)