Baguio City – The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is on schedule to meet its target of constructing 2,000 housing units this year, addressing the current 7,000-unit housing deficit in the area. The regional efforts, led by DHSUD-CAR Regional Director Antonette Anaban, focus on significant projects in Baguio and Tabuk to tackle this shortage.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DHSUD-CAR announced during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas press briefing that the construction of approximately 4,000 housing units will begin soon in the cities of Baguio and Tabuk. Director Anaban highlighted the commencement of the Lumin-awa housing project in Tabuk City, Kalinga, which includes nine buildings and is envisioned as a township complete with urban amenities yet surrounded by rural landscapes. This project promises open spaces and gardens for food production.
In Baguio, the Luna Terraces, a city government initiative, will offer around 300 units by 2025, serving as a relocation site for families from disaster-prone and watershed areas. Additionally, Tuba, Benguet will see the development of approximately 3,666 units under the city’s second housing project. These initiatives are part of the broader Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pamilyang Pilipino Housing (4PH) program.
Anaban also noted that other local government units are exploring potential housing sites, with financial terms featuring a minimal interest rate of 1.1 percent for qualified beneficiaries through Pag-IBIG, while the government will cover the remaining 5 percent interest. The designs for these developments consider the region’s limited alienable land due to its mountainous terrain, with all buildings planned as multi-level structures up to 10 storeys.
To further support these developments, the government is seeking the conversion of about 100 hectares of land in the region to be declared alienable and disposable, enhancing the feasibility of future projects.