ILOILO City — The city government has moved to dismantle long-standing perceptions of politicized housing allocation, opening its housing programs to a wider pool of qualified beneficiaries while enforcing a strict needs-based system for distribution.
Local Housing Office head Peter Jason Millare said the city is actively correcting misconceptions that housing projects are reserved for city hall employees only, stressing that current initiatives prioritize eligibility and urgency over political ties.
“Nag-create siya sang misunderstanding nga city hall employees lang makabenepisyo, but it’s not,” Millare said. “All the rest is open market — meaning first-time buyers, wala sang property, and preferably city voters since they are the constituents we serve.”
The clarification comes as the city ramps up four major housing projects aimed at addressing increasing demand for shelter across Iloilo. These include:
* a 120-unit low-rise residential development with SM Development Corporation (SMDC) that initially targeted low-salaried government workers
* the 240-unit Uswag Residential Complex or “blue building” funded by the National Housing Authority
* the 1,677-unit Uswag 4PH Condominium Complex under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program implemented through a public-private partnership, and
* Batiano Village, a climate-resilient community for fire victims and disaster-affected families
Millare underscored that the 4PH condominium project is among the first in the country to be carried out under a public-private partnership model, combining affordability with long-term urban sustainability.
Central to the city’s housing strategy is the removal of political influence in beneficiary selection.
“As much as possible, gina-depoliticize naton ini. Ginkakas gid naton ang ‘ginapolitika ang housing’, nga kun sino lang ang lapit, siya lang awardan. That’s not true,” he stressed.
Instead, the city applies a transparent “first-in, first-out” system, prioritizing applicants based on when they filed and their level of need.
“Ang gina-contact namon subong amo ang nag-apply pa sang 2023. First-in, first-out kita. We also have over 400 walk-in applicants,” Millare added.
Priority is given to families living in danger zones, informal settlers displaced by infrastructure projects, and households affected by fires or natural disasters.
Despite the expanded programs, city officials acknowledged that housing demand continues to outpace available resources.
“We have to accept our reality nga limited gid ang resources. Pero ang importante, naga-provide kita. Wala kita gapabaya,” Millare said.
To bridge the gap, the city is combining local funds, national government support, and private sector compliance mechanisms requiring developers to contribute to socialized housing.
Millare emphasized that the city is steering away from fully subsidized models, instead promoting sustainable housing programs that encourage responsibility and long-term ownership among beneficiaries./PN
