A rental housing project aimed at benefiting low-income workers, students, and nearby informal settler families has broken ground inside the University of the Philippines Los Baños under the government’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program.
Officials said the project, to be built in Barangay Paciano Rizal in Bay, Laguna, is expected to initially serve around 1,000 low-income employees and students of the university as well as families living near the campus.
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by Jose Ramon Aliling of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development together with Angelo Jimenez on March 6.
“The on-campus rental housing project will initially benefit about 1,000 low-income employees and students of UPLB, as well as informal settler families within its vicinity,” Aliling said in a statement.
According to DHSUD, the project marks the first housing development inside the UPLB campus in 45 years.
The previous shelter project in the university was implemented during the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in the 1980s.
Aliling said the housing initiative is part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s flagship housing program aimed at expanding access to safe and affordable housing for Filipinos.
He said the government continues to widen the coverage of the 4PH program to address housing needs across the country.
UP officials also emphasized the importance of providing dignified housing for members of the university community.
Jimenez said the partnership between DHSUD and the university is part of a broader effort to improve living conditions for students, faculty members, and nearby residents.
Meanwhile, Jose Camacho Jr. said the joint project was finalized in just two months, describing it as a significant boost to the university’s efforts to address housing concerns.
DHSUD said similar housing initiatives are also being planned for other campuses, including a separate rental housing project being prepared at the University of the Philippines Diliman.