SECRETARY JOSE RAMON “Ping” P. Aliling of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) will be honored as a Distinguished Honorary Fellow of the Gerry Roxas Leadership Awardees, Inc. (GRLA Inc.) on September 26, 2026, in recognition of his exemplary leadership, commitment to public service, and advocacy for accountable and people-centered governance.
The recognition will be conferred during “Gabi ng Pagkilala at Pagdiriwang: Celebrating Leadership and Service,” to be held at the Quezon City Sports Complex.
For more than a decade, Aliling has been a steadfast supporter of GRLA Inc.’s programs and activities. His long association with the organization reflects more than institutional support—it speaks of a shared commitment to the ideals embodied by the late Senator Gerry Roxas and the young leaders who have carried his legacy forward.
A civil engineer by profession, Aliling has consistently demonstrated the qualities that define a Gerry Roxas Leadership Awardee: excellence, integrity, service, and a deep sense of responsibility to country and community.
A Compleat Public Servant
Even before his appointment as DHSUD Secretary, Aliling had built a reputation as a strong advocate of transparency, accountability, and zero tolerance for corruption in government. His approach to public service has been anchored on the belief that government must remain responsive to the people and that leadership is ultimately measured not by position, but by the lives it improves.
His professional accomplishments have likewise earned national recognition. Aliling was named one of the The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of the Philippines in 2015 for Civil Engineering and received the Lasallian Achievement Award in Civil Engineering in 2021 for his contributions to infrastructure development and community upliftment.
Today, as Secretary of DHSUD, Aliling is bringing this same commitment to a sector that touches one of the most fundamental aspirations of every Filipino—the dream of having a safe, decent, and dignified home.
8-Point Agenda
Under his leadership, he has laid out an ambitious 8-Point Agenda that provides a forward-looking direction for the Department. Among its key priorities is the expansion of the government’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program (4PH), including the development of more horizontal housing projects.
His agenda also calls for reforms in DHSUD’s regulatory processes, including streamlined permitting systems and the establishment of one-stop shops nationwide to make government services more accessible and efficient.
At the heart of the agenda is a people-centric approach—one that seeks to listen to homebuyers, address their concerns, simplify processes, and make government housing programs more responsive to the realities of ordinary Filipino families.
For Aliling, the agenda is more than a list of policies. It is a call to action: to build a DHSUD that is proactive, transparent, people-centered, and committed to delivering dignified and sustainable housing for Filipinos.
His early leadership at DHSUD has drawn recognition from various sectors. In 2026, he was honored as Asia’s Icon of Excellence in Housing and Urban Development at the Asia’s Golden Icon Awards and recognized as Bayani ng Urban Poor 2026 for his inclusive, humane, and people-centered leadership and initiatives for urban poor communities.
For Aliling, housing is not simply about constructing buildings. It is about creating communities, protecting dignity, and giving families a stronger foundation from which to build their future.
It is this convergence of competence and compassion, integrity and service, leadership and social responsibility that makes Aliling a fitting recipient of the GRLA Inc. Distinguished Fellow recognition.
A Leader, Indeed
The Gerry Roxas Leadership Award has, for decades, sought to honor young Filipinos who demonstrate the courage to lead and the character to serve. Its legacy lives on through its awardees and fellows—individuals who continue to translate leadership into meaningful action.
Aliling’s journey reflects that same enduring principle: that leadership is not measured by the power one holds, but by the lives one touches and the difference one leaves behind.
On September 26, GRLA Inc. will not only honor a government official. It will celebrate a public servant whose work continues to demonstrate that when leadership is grounded in integrity, excellence, and genuine concern for the people, service becomes a legacy.
