DEPARTMENT of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar revealed on Monday that his agency has forged more partnership agreements, this time with private contractors and developers to ensure the success of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) program.

“The government alone cannot address the country’s housing backlog now pegged at more than 6.5 million units, hence, the promotion of the joint venture agreement (JVA) and public-private partnership (PPP) under the national housing program,” Acuzar said.

The housing czar has been meeting with officials and members of the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA), Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP), National Real Estate Association Inc. (NREA), and Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations Inc. (Creba).

The DHSUD’s strong alliance with these private groups strengthens the mobilization of housing construction industry players to help achieve the targeted 1 million housing units annually in the next six years under the 4PH, Acuzar said.

He stressed that real estate players will play a vital role in addressing the backlog through their resources, field expertise and international linkages.

“These groups and other private organizations are absolute multipliers and prime movers in producing affordable and decent homes that most Filipinos dream about,” he said. “Our doors are wide open for partnership with all stakeholders, particularly private contractors and developers. The government cannot do it alone; we need to be innovative.”

The DHSUD, which is spearheading the implementation of 4PH, recently released the program’s Operations Manual, which cites JVA and PPP as among the strategic solutions touted to accelerate the execution of the flagship housing program.

Through these schemes, private developers and contractors can actively participate in the program, the agency said.

In the manual, DHSUD, as the lead agency and key enabler of the 4PH Program, authorizes three major proponents, which include local government units (LGUs) availing of developmental loan from government financial institutions (GFIs); JVA or PPP between LGUs and developers/contractors; and private developers through turnkey projects.