The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) called on private developers to deliver on their pledged housing commitments under the Marcos administration’s flagship housing program during the 33rd National Developers Convention held recently in Makati City.

“SHDA and its members play a crucial role in helping achieve the goals of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s expanded Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program,” DHSUD Undersecretary Sharon Faith Paquiz said. “So, at that note po, naniningil na kami sa commitment n’yo na 250,000 units as your participation in the 4PH program. Please do good on your commitment. It’s part of our partnership.”

The Subdivision and Housing Developers Association Inc. (SHDA) earlier pledged to construct 250,000 housing units annually as the private sector’s contribution to the government’s Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program (4PH), which targets the construction of one million housing units each year. Paquiz’s reminder underscored the administration’s push for stronger public-private collaboration to close the country’s housing backlog and make homeownership more accessible for Filipino families.

This year’s convention, themed “Recalibrate: Upgrading Housing Strategies for a Better Tomorrow,” mirrored the National Shelter Month’s theme, “Build Homes, Build Happiness.” The theme reflected a renewed call for innovation in the housing sector and the need to rethink traditional development approaches to meet evolving social and economic needs. The recalibrated 4PH framework, officials said, stemmed from a shared vision to expand affordable and sustainable housing options nationwide.

Paquiz highlighted DHSUD’s ongoing reforms under its eight-point agenda, including the “zero backlog” initiative that aims to resolve pending cases and accelerate the release of permits and licenses to sell.

“We operationalize the DHSUD’s 8-point agenda which include the zero backlog initiative, an effort to resolve pending cases, and expedite the release of permits and licenses to sell,” she said. “We’ve also taken bold steps to streamline the 4PH processes by removing previously required agreement between parties which have become a bottleneck in delivery of more housing units. Ito po yung mga bipartite agreement, tripartite agreement, legal certification, technical certification, now we simplify it to simply application of development permit.”

She added that DHSUD is moving toward full digitalization of its permitting and licensing processes to make compliance faster, more transparent, and more convenient for both developers and homebuyers. “Moreover, we are working towards full digitalization of permits and license processing to improve convenience to both home buyers and our partner developers,” she said.

Jointly organized by SHDA and DHSUD, the annual National Developers Convention gathered key government officials, industry leaders, developers, suppliers, and experts to tackle the most pressing issues in housing and urban development.

This year’s program featured sessions on sustainable housing models, inclusive development strategies, policy reforms, financing accessibility, and the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. Discussions also delved into the Philippine real estate outlook, the vital role of local governments in promoting inclusive housing, and innovative design approaches to build resilient, livable, and future-ready communities.

By reinforcing collaboration between the public and private sectors, the convention reaffirmed a shared commitment to ensure that every Filipino family has access to a safe, affordable, and dignified home — a cornerstone of the nation’s long-term development agenda.