ILOILO — Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne Baronda defended the proposed ₱5.088-billion budget of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development during the plenary deliberation of the 2027 national budget. She emphasized that the allocation would sustain affordable housing programs and subsidized financing.
A Budget for Decent Homes
Baronda, vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, sponsored and defended the budgets of DHSUD and its attached agencies. These include the National Housing Authority, Social Housing Finance Corporation, and National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation. She acknowledged gaps in addressing housing needs but expressed confidence in the department's direction.
She said the DHSUD family, under Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling, has promised to find solutions with help from other government agencies. The House of Representatives stands ready to support these efforts through legislation and oversight. The proposed budget reflects a commitment to decent shelter for every Filipino family.
Reducing the Housing Backlog
The country's housing need stands at 3.77 million units based on recent Philippine Statistics Authority data. Baronda said shelter agencies aim to reduce this to 1.13 million by 2028. The strategy combines direct housing provision through NHA and SHFC with indirect financing through the Home Development Mutual Fund and NHMFC.
She noted that no single solution can address the diverse needs of Filipino families. Guided by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s vision and Executive Order No. 34, the housing sector adopted an inclusive, beneficiary-centered, and multi-modal approach. This framework recognizes that different families require different types of assistance.
Multi-Modal Housing Strategy
The strategy includes vertical housing through high-rise condominium developments and horizontal projects featuring subdivision-style house-and-lot units. Rental housing provides affordable lease options for lower-income families. The Enhanced Community Mortgage Program helps informal settler families collectively purchase land.
Incremental housing allows phased construction, letting owners expand their units based on budget. Presidential proclamation sites offer housing on government-declared lands. High-density housing maximizes limited urban space, while temporary or modular shelters provide rapidly deployable units during emergencies. Each modality addresses a specific segment of the housing market.
Iloilo City Housing Progress
In Iloilo City, Baronda is pursuing a housing project with NHA in Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro. The Iloilo City People's Residences, intended for teachers and informal-sector workers affected by infrastructure projects, is more than 80 percent complete. The project represents a concrete step toward addressing local housing needs.
Baronda expressed gratitude for the questions raised by fellow lawmakers during the deliberation. Concerns ranged from targets versus accomplishments to absorptive capacity, climate resiliency, and affordability. She said the DHSUD family has taken note of these issues and committed to addressing them.
A Continuing Advocacy
Baronda reaffirmed her commitment to housing as one of her core advocacies under the banner Governance of Housing, Opportunities, and Public Engagement. She said she will continue ensuring that Filipino families, including her beloved Ilonggos, can proudly say they have homes of their own.
The proposed budget now moves through the legislative process, where further deliberations will shape its final form. Lawmakers from both chambers will reconcile versions before sending the measure to the President. Baronda's defense sets the stage for continued support of the housing sector.
