By Tracy Cabrera
MANILA, Philippines — The government could turn an estimated 80,000 unsold condominium units into affordable housing for government workers and low-income families instead of allowing them to remain vacant, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said.
Escudero said the idle residential properties, many of them located in Metro Manila, represent an opportunity to address the country’s persistent housing shortage, particularly following the government’s crackdown on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Speaking on his “Chiz Wiz!” podcast, the senator questioned the need to construct new housing projects when thousands of existing condominium units could already be made available to qualified beneficiaries.
“Why build from scratch when there are already existing units that can be made available to our people?” Escudero said, advocating stronger public-private partnerships to put the unsold properties to productive use.
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement, Escudero urged the government and private developers to explore incorporating excess condominium inventory into the expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program.
He said the arrangement could provide a faster and potentially less costly way of expanding the country’s housing supply while allowing developers to recover investments tied up in unsold properties.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has already allowed developers to offer excess housing inventory under the 4PH initiative.
Escudero noted that the country’s housing situation remains contradictory, with thousands of residential units standing empty even as millions of Filipinos continue to struggle with inadequate or inaccessible housing.
He proposed financing arrangements that would make monthly amortization more manageable, including subsidies, longer repayment periods, and salary-deduction schemes for government employees.
He also called for expanded affordable rental housing for families not yet financially capable of purchasing their own homes.
Escudero stressed that the housing crisis cannot be resolved simply by building more units, saying the government must also address affordability, financing and access to employment.
He further underscored the importance of improving mass transportation to allow Filipinos to live outside major urban centers without losing access to jobs.
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