TOP officials of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the University of the Philippines (UP) on Friday broke ground for a housing project under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s flagship Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, signaling the start of construction of the first housing project in UP Los Baños after 45 years.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling and UP President Angelo Jimenez led the groundbreaking ceremony at the project site in Paciano Rizal, Bay, Laguna.

The on-campus rental housing project will initially benefit about 1,000 low-income employees and students of UP Los Baños, and informal settler families within its vicinity.

“Alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Marcos Jr., patuloy ang paglawig ng Expanded 4PH upang mas maraming Pilipino pa ang ating matulungan sa kanilang pangangailangan ng disente, ligtas at abot kayang pabahay,” Aliling said, as quoted in a news release on Saturday.

“Layunin ng rental housing project na ito ang magbigay ng mas may dignidad na pamumuhay sa ating mga kababayang higit na nangangailangan,” he added.

The UPLB rental housing project came 45 years since the last shelter project in the university was implemented during the time of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. in the 1980s.

In his remarks, Jimenez cited the significance of decent and dignified housing within UP campuses for the welfare of constituents, stressing that the UP Management should take a “hands on” stance in dealing with the concern.

He branded the partnership between the DHSUD and UP as a step forward in his pursuit of a transformative agenda for UP and its constituents–students, faculty members, and residents.

For his part, UPLB Chancellor Jose Camacho Jr. noted the expeditious fruition of the joint project with DHSUD, citing it was finalized in just two months, calling it a huge boost to the UPLB administration’s efforts in providing decent shelters for its constituents.

Aliling vowed continued support to the housing initiatives of UP, through President Marcos Jr.’s Expanded 4PH.

Apart from the UP LB rental housing project, the DHSUD has also signed an agreement for similar project in UP Diliman campus.

“Malinaw po ang utos ng Pangulong Marcos Jr. ibaba natin ang mga serbisyo ng gobyerno sa ating mga kababayan. Kaya patuloy po ang DHSUD sa pakikipag ugnayan sa ibat ibang ahensya ng pamahalaan upang makatulong kami,” Aliling said.