Metro Manila, Philippines – Naga City Mayor and former Vice President Leni Robredo commended the Marcos administration’s housing program and said that the national government is pursuing housing projects more aggressively than in previous years.

Speaking during the signing of a housing agreement between the Pag-IBIG Fund and the Naga local government, Robredo recalled her experience as chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and noted that housing initiatives had faced funding constraints.

“For a very long time, hindi natin nakita na ganito ka-aggressive ang national government as far as housing is concerned,” Robredo said on Thursday, June 18.

[Translation: For a very long time, we have not seen the national government become this aggressive when it comes to housing.]

Robredo said the housing sector lacked sufficient resources in the past, making it difficult to pursue large-scale projects.

“Noong ako ang chair ng HUDCC, wala kaming budget para sa housing,” she said.

[Translation: When I was chair of the HUDCC, we did not have a budget for housing.]

The city government is part of the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (Expanded 4PH) Program, the administration’s flagship housing initiative.

The project aims to provide 576 housing units for qualified city government employees through the Bellavita Naga Socialized Housing Project.

The agreement was signed by Housing Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling, Pag-IBIG Fund CEO Marilene Acosta, Robredo and representatives of Bellavita Land Inc.

Under the Expanded 4PH Program, beneficiaries may avail themselves of subsidized interest rates of 3 percent for socialized housing. Officials said a housing unit worth ₱350,000 could be paid through monthly amortizations of ₱1,475.61. Qualified beneficiaries may also borrow up to ₱100,000 for home improvement.

Pag-IBIG Fund said the project aims to expand access to affordable housing and help more government workers secure permanent homes for their families.