Senators press DBM, DHSUD over delayed releases for housing, disaster assistance

Senators reprimanded Budget and Housing officials over administrative bottlenecks between fund allotments and cash releases that have stalled vital municipal resettlement projects and emergency housing assistance. The Senate Finance Subcommittee hearing on the Department of Human Settlements and Urb

Senators reprimanded Budget and Housing officials over administrative bottlenecks between fund allotments and cash releases that have stalled vital municipal resettlement projects and emergency housing assistance.

During the Senate Finance Subcommittee hearing on the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development’s (DHSUD) proposed 2027 budget on Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri highlighted that despite a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) issued on June 30, cash disbursements for resettlement sites in Maramag and Quezon, Bukidnon remain unreleased.

National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Joeben A. Tai explained that while the projects secured allotments under institutional amendments in the General Appropriations Act, cash allocation bottlenecks from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) have restricted actual disbursements. Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go questioned the lack of dedicated cash releases for the Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP) and Quick Response Fund under the NHA. Mr. Tai admitted that while prior allocations were fully disbursed by tapping internal accounts, no cash allocation has been made available by the DBM for EHAP in 2026.

Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement Chair Joseph Victor G. Ejercito raised serious concerns over low budget utilization and structural flaws in the government’s flagship Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program. Mr. Ejercito pointed out that 30-story high-rise socialized housing projects under 4PH impose monthly amortizations of up to P7,600 plus monthly estate maintenance fees of P1,800, causing severe affordability challenges for low-income beneficiaries. “High-rise socialized housing creates long-term cost… elevators, power, water pressure, building maintenance… It’s not practical for socialized housing,” Mr. Ejercito warned, emphasizing that out of 15,000 completed vertical units, only 7,700 have been taken out by buyers.

Mr. Aliling appealed to lawmakers for additional funding, requesting P2 billion for the Social Housing Finance Corp.’s Community Mortgage Program to assist around 100,000 informal settler families, compared to its current allocation of P166 million.

According to the latest Philippine Statistics Authority estimates cited during the hearing, the national housing backlog is projected to hit 3.7 million units by 2028, comprising 1.1 million units needing rehabilitation, 2.2 million doubled-up households, and 400,000 net replacement units.