President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos led the ceremonial awarding of five housing units under the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program to overseas Filipino workers (OFW). This event marked the first-ever turnover of housing units under the flagship 4PH initiative.
The awarding ceremony took place during the Pamaskong Handog para sa OFWs at Malacañan Palace, attended by Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.
The recipients of the symbolic keys to their new homes were Jeramie Leyno, Madeleine Anne Mallare, Ramon Mabiog, Fatima Tolentino, and Rogelio Crisostomo. Leyno works as a painter in Japan, while Mallare, Mabiog, Tolentino, and Crisostomo are returning OFWs from Saudi Arabia, Japan, Singapore, and Libya, respectively.
These five individuals were among those who applied for housing units at the Palayan City Township Project, implemented under the 4PH program. They were processed and endorsed by the Palayan City local government unit and vetted by the DMW as required by 4PH guidelines before receiving approval from Pag-IBIG Fund. The beneficiaries have also visited the actual site of the housing project in Barangay Atate.
As beneficiaries of the 4PH program, these OFWs are entitled to interest support from the national government for their monthly amortization.
Secretary Acuzar emphasized that this initiative reflects the commitment of President Marcos and First Lady Araneta-Marcos to provide support to OFWs and their families in achieving their dream of safe and decent housing. He acknowledged the sacrifices made by OFWs for the nation, stating that they form a crucial foundation of the national economy.
This turnover represents a significant milestone as it is the first delivery of housing units since the 4PH program’s launch in 2022. It results from a Joint Memorandum Circular entered into by DHSUD and DMW last October.
Secretary Acuzar expressed hopes for more OFWs to benefit from the 4PH program as a way for the government to honor their contributions. He noted that DHSUD is actively exploring ways to prioritize OFWs and their families in future housing initiatives.
Additionally, four housing units under 4PH projects were raffled off to over 500 OFWs and their dependents present at the event.
