Manila:<Text>

At least 2,150 housing units are being constructed under a massive in-city development in Manila's Port Area, expected to benefit more than 6,000 residents under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Port Town Housing Project, led by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), is initially composed of five condominium-type buildings now in various stages of construction. The DHSUD, in a news release on Wednesday, noted that the project is being implemented through a joint venture agreement (JVA) between the Pag-IBIG Fund and the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), marking a new modality under the recalibrated Expanded 4PH Program.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said the collaboration among key shelter agencies (KSAs) aims to accelerate housing delivery and expand access to affordable homes. 'Ang pagsasanib-pwersa ng ating mga KSAs sa pamamagitan ng JVAs ay para pabilisin at paghusayin pa ang Expanded 4PH Program alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. (The collaboration of our KSAs through JVAs is meant to accelerate and further enhance the Expanded 4PH Program in line with the directive of President Marcos, Jr.),' Aliling said.

The 2,150 units will primarily benefit informal settler families assisted by SHFC within the city, providing them safer and more affordable housing options without relocating them far from their livelihoods. During an inspection on Tuesday, Aliling, along with Senior Undersecretary Eduardo Robles Jr., Pag-IBIG Fund CEO Marilene Acosta, and SHFC President Federico Laxa, assessed the structural progress and compliance with construction standards.

'Layunin ng inspeksyong ito na tiyakin ang completion timelines at mataas na kalidad nang pag-construct. Mahigpit naming sinuri ang bawat gusali at agad tinukoy ang mga isyung maaaring magdulot ng delay (The pu rpose of this inspection is to ensure completion timelines and high-quality construction. We strictly evaluated every building and immediately identified issues that could cause potential delays),' he said.

Under the new modality, Pag-IBIG Fund is authorized to enter into joint ventures with other government institutions to fast-track housing projects. Similar partnerships involving Pag-IBIG Fund, SHFC, and the National Housing Authority are also being lined up. 'Para mas mapabilis at mapaghusay pa ang implementasyon ng Expanded 4PH, patuloy po ang DHSUD kasama ang aming mga attached agencies sa pag-aaral sa iba pang pwedeng modality para mas maraming pamilyang Pilipino ang ating matulungan makamit ang pinapangarap na sariling tahanan (To further accelerate and enhance the implementation of the Expanded 4PH, DHSUD and our attached agencies continue to study other possible modalities so we can help more Filipino families achieve their dream of owning a home),' Aliling said.

He added that while the government is accelerating housing construction, quality remains non-negotiable.