Developers given more time to comply with balanced housing law

MANILA, Philippines – Concerned private developers are given ample time to comply with the government's Balanced Housing Development Program (BHPD) owing to typhoons and other fortuitous events, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said on Tuesday. DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling originally set Dec. 31, 2025 as deadline for these developers to satisfy the requirements of Republic Act 10884 (Balanced Housing Development Program Amendments) particularly the provision on the BHDP compliance. “In view of the current economic reverses and lack of ample time to recover from recent typhoons, earthquakes and other fortuitous events, the effectivity of the ancillary sanctions is further suspended, for the last time, until 31 March 2026,” Aliling said. Aliling told The Manila Times that he issued a memorandum which was sent to the concerned private developers for their information. The housing czar said the move was part of DHSUD’s contribution to the national economy while, at the same time, sustaining the positive momentum of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s flagship "Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino" (4PH) program. With the extension given to them, the DHSUD chief was confident that they would now have more time to speed up the establishment of socialized housing projects under the 4PH program. Under the expanded 4PH, all socialized housing projects, both subdivision and condominium developments, are covered by the program, he explained. The non-compliance to BHDP by some developers was discovered last July in the course of the Zero Backlog Program on actionable items concerning regulatory functions spearheaded by DHSUD Supervising Senior Undersecretary Sharon Faith Paquiz. Under RA 10884, developers of new resid+ential subdivision and condominium projects are mandated to provide for socialized housing, either by developing on-site (15percent for subdivisions, 5percent for condominiums) or through alternative compliance options, the DHSUD said.