In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to provide safer and more comfortable emergency housing, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has deployed modular shelter units (MSUs) to calamity-stricken areas –setting up new standards of transitory shelters in the country in 2025.
Through the deployment of MSUs spearheaded by Undersecretary Ed Robles, the DHSUD is providing not only safer but dignified temporary shelters to families rendered homeless by various disasters that hit the country this year, in close coordination with concerned national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and partner stakeholders.
In October, DHSUD, along other agencies, launched the Bayanihan Villages, composed of MSUs as temporary shelters, initially in areas affected by two powerful earthquakes in Cebu and Davao Oriental provinces.
As of 12 December 2025, DHSUD has completed the deployment of MSUs in the municipalities of San Remigio, Cebu; Daantabantayan, Cebu; Bogo, Cebu; Tarragona, Davao Oriental; and Manay, Davao Oriental, providing immediate relief to families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by earthquakes.
In San Juan City, the DHSUD also turned over MSUs which are now being occupied by fire victims. The modular shelters will also be used as staging area for beneficiaries of Expanded 4PH.
Installation works for more MSUs are also ongoing in Bogo, Cebu; Baganga, Davao Oriental; and Mandaue City, Cebu; in Tarragona and Baganga, Davao Oriental.
In addition, MSUs are allotted for Mandaue City, Cebu, as part of continuing support for LGUs affected by recent typhoons. Likewise, deployment of MSUs is underway, pending MGB inspection and approval, in Cebu, Davao Oriental, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Negros Occidental, and Negros Oriental.
“Each MSU deployed represents real family–mga magulang, mga bata, at mga lolo’t lola–na nangangailangan ng agarang masisilungan matapos ang mga sakuna,” DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said.
“Malinaw ang direktiba ni Pangulong Marcos Jr.: sa ilalim ng Bagong Pilipinas, walang maiiwan. Kaya tuloy-tuloy ang aming paglilingkod upang kahit papaano ay maibsan ang hirap na nararanasan ng mga kababayan nating apektado ng sakuna,” he added.
Secretary Aliling stressed that the MSU program is designed not only for speed, but also for safety and dignity.
“Hindi lang ito pansamantalang bubong. Ito ay ligtas, maayos, at may dignidad na tirahan habang bumabangon pa ang mga komunidad,” he said.
He committed sustained efforts to further improve facilities like health clinics, training abd learning centers inside the Bayanihan Villages to help ensure the recovery of displaced families.
“Sa bawat unit na naitatayo, layunin nating ibalik unti-unti ang pag-asa sa ating mga kababayan,” Secretary Aliling said.
“Makakaasa kayo na patuloy na magsisikap ang DHSUD—hangga’t may nangangailangan ng tahanan, nandito kami upang umagapay, katuwang ang LGUs at iba pang mga ahensya,” he concluded.
The DHSUD continues to closely monitor on-ground conditions and work with partner agencies to accelerate installations and deliveries, in keeping with the government’s commitment to responsive, people-centered disaster recovery.
