Over 5K families to be awarded land through revived ‘people-led’ housing program

Joseph Azil Buena

Amid ongoing efforts by the Marcos administration to address the country’s housing backlog, more than 5,000 low-income Filipino families are set to gain land ownership and subsidies through the revival of the Community Mortgage Program (CMP).

Photo Courtesy of PhilStar.

On July 16, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) approved a proposal to reactivate 34 on-site CMP projects aimed at providing housing lots and site development for qualified beneficiaries.

In a statement, DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said that the move follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to implement “pro-poor and people-centered” housing policies.

“Alinsunod po ito sa utos ng Pangulong Marcos Jr. sa pagsusulong ng mga pro-poor at people-centered housing programs,” Aliling explained.

“We need to prioritize high-impact and implementable CMP projects and assist our beneficiaries to transform their communities,” he added.

First introduced in 1988, the CMP enables organized low-income communities to access affordable financing for purchasing and improving land through collective and community-led ownership.

Member-beneficiaries may borrow around Php 400,000 to Php 750,000 with a 6 percent annual interest rate, payable for up to 25 years.

Preparations are currently underway in eight priority locations: Pasig City, Valenzuela City, Tanay in Rizal, City of San Fernando in Pampanga, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Roxas City in Capiz, and Iloilo City.

The proposal to revitalize the CMP was led by Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) President Federico Laxa, who included an “incremental housing component,” now enabling beneficiaries to improve their homes with government aid.

“These projects represent not just houses but hope, dignity, and stability for thousands of Filipino families … This reflects our strong commitment to address the housing needs of the underserved through direct community empowerment,” Laxa said.

SHFC also plans to partner with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to provide skills training, further empowering beneficiaries with sustainable livelihood opportunities.

In addition, SHFC has formed a task force to streamline the evaluation and fast-track approval of CMP projects.

Spanning key areas in Luzon and Visayas, the DHSUD and SHFC are targeting the awarding of the first batch of CMP sites by October 2025.

The move to revive CMP is part of the broader push to “reinforce” the Marcos administration’s flagship housing initiative, the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program (4PH).

Since Marcos took office in 2022, the CMP has taken a backseat as the government shifted its focus toward vertical housing under 4PH.