DHSUD, SMDC ink MOUs for Abra resettlement projects
DEPARTMENT of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar’s vision for public-private partnership (PPP) on Abra resettlement projects came to fruition after inking two Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with SM Development Corporation (SMDC).
The DHSUD and its key shelter agencies National Housing Authority (NHA) and Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund), and the local government of Tayum, Abra, on Thursday jointly signed an MOU with SMDC for the development of resettlement sites for the families severely affected by the recent earthquake in the province.
Later that day, another MOU was signed with the local government of Bucay town, also in Abra, targeting quake-affected families as among the beneficiaries.
“Our plan of developing resettlement sites is already in place. In fact, I came here with officials from the SM Development Corporation as one of our partners in constructing resettlement sites here in Abra,” Acuzar said.
During his visit to Tayum and Bucay towns, the housing chief inked the partnership with SMDC to explore options for the affected residents with shelter and permanent housing assistance through the developer’s incentivized compliance to the Balanced Housing Development Program, including rental subsidy, purchase of land as relocation site and land development.
Acuzar has earlier initiated preliminary talks with some of the biggest developers in the country to fast-track recovery and rehabilitation efforts in the quake-affected areas, particularly in terms of safe and sustainable housing programs.
In Bucay town, the NHA’s ongoing resettlement project is seen as one of the sites for permanent housing of affected families with planned additional development and improvement.
The housing chief asked the local government unit in the area to study potential subsidized housing projects for its constituents with assistance from the national government.
“May we walk together to turn the dream of every Filipino to have a house of their own into reality. Kasama natin ang ating mahal na Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa sama-samang pagbangon muli bilang isang matatag at maunlad na republika,” Acuzar said.
Joining Acuzar were local chief executives of Abra, DHSUD Central and Regional Offices officials, NHA General Manager Joeben Tai, Pag-IBIG Fund Deputy Chief Executive Officer Marilene Acosta, SMDC representative Jonas Augusto Perez and DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos.
