DBM eyes P5.5-B housing budget

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) recommended a P5.498-billion budget for housing agencies in 2027, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said on Tuesday, far below the proposed P60-billion budget.

The DHSUD and its attached agencies are seeking a combined P60 billion for 2027, with the largest share earmarked for the National Housing Authority (NHA) to expand the government’s housing programs.

At a House Committee on Housing and Urban Development hearing, Housing Undersecretary Henry L. Yap presented that, of the total proposed budget, P44.732 billion would go to the NHA, while P4.962 billion will be allocated to the DHSUD.

The Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC) is proposing P4.666 billion, while the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. (NHMFC) and the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission (HSAC) are seeking P4.750 billion and P890 million, respectively.

This is against the DBM’s proposed P2.274 billion for the NHA, P2.492 billion for DHSUD, P166 million for SHFC, P450,000 for NHMFC, and P566 million for HSAC.

During the briefing, Mr. Yap said that the government has so far assisted 1.133 million housing units and expects another 557,000 units to be delivered over the remaining two years of the administration.

“We still expect about 557,000 units directly or indirectly to be assisted in the remaining two years,” he said.

The department also said that the expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program has evolved from focusing solely on vertical housing to include horizontal housing, rental housing, temporary housing, Pag-IBIG Fund’s real and other properties acquired, low-interest housing loan programs, the revitalized Community Mortgage Program, housing projects covered by presidential proclamations, and non-socialized housing developments by private developers. — Pexcel John Bacon