The Office of the President inaugurates a housing project in Disiplina Village, Barangay Arkong Bato, Valenzuela City, through a turnover ceremony on September 15, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) took into account the need for climate-resilient housing in its proposed 2027 budget amid flooding, according to DHSUD's budget sponsor Representative Julienne Baronda.
Baronda told lawmakers during plenary deliberations on the DHSUD's budget that this was incorporated into the total costing of projects.
"Definitely kasama na po diyan to be resilient already. At naka-build in na po sa total cost ng project per units," Baronda said on Wednesday.
The agency asked for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)'s support for this, according to Baronda.
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"For example po, it was built already in mga non-flooded areas. And mayroon po din tayo doon sa recent na pinuntahan ni presidente sa Cavite. Solar panel na din 'yun. Tapos 'yung proposal po doon sa Region VI ni NHA po and ni DHSUD po, naka-incorporate na po diyan especially doon po sa mga areas na declared ng Project NOAH and the low-lying areas po or 'yung mga critical areas. Kaya po hinihingi na rin natin 'yung suporta ng DENR," Baronda said.
DHSUD's proposed budget is at over P5 billion for 2027, Baronda said.
This includes P1.1 billion for housing interest subsidies and the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.
NO FUNDING IN DHSUD BUDGET FOR SARILING KURYENTE
Funding to operationalize the "Sariling Kuryente Act," mentioned by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), was not included in the DHSUD's proposed budget, according to Baronda.
"President Marcos made a pronouncement. In fact, a directive… How does your 2027 budget now operationalize this directive? Nakasama po ba 'yan diyan sa mga plano ninyo pong mga modalities, whatever modalities you have right now? Is it integrated na ang directive ng sariling kuryente?" 4K party-list Representative Iris Montes asked.
Baronda replied, "Wala po tayo. But nakipag-usap tayo with the CMP and the NIA na tulungan tayo."
The "Sariling Kuryente Act" aims to encourage households to generate their own electricity through the use of renewable energy sources.
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"Siguro naman po alam din naman natin ang kahalagahan nitong direktiba ng pangulo, lalo na sa panahong napakataas ng presyo ng kuryente… Kung mayroon po naka-integrate po sa plano ng DHSUD ang mga solar-ready homes, malaking kapakinabangan po 'yan sa mga ordinaryong pamilya na makabawas sa kanilang pang-araw araw na gastusin," Montes said.
It would be best for socialized housing to be "solar-ready," according to the lawmaker.
"Ang sinasabi ko lang po dito 'yung mga socialized housing po mas magandang solar-ready 'yung mga socialized housing natin para hindi na po ibe-bear ng mga mahihirap 'yung gastusin para doon," Montes said.