More housing projects for farmers under way
MORE housing projects for farmers are under way following the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between the Departments of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and Agrarian Reform (DAR) and 19 local government units (LGUs) with their farmer-benefiaciaries.
DHSUD Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario and DAR Secretary John Castriciones spearheaded the signing of MOUs for the BALAI Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs)/Farmers Housing Program.
The pact will pave the way for the construction of decent and affordable housing communities for farmers in cities and municipalities across the country. It also aims to uplift farmers’ morale and strengthen their emotional attachment to their farms, thus in turn will help empower the country’s overall agricultural industry.
Del Rosario emphasized that its partnership with DAR is part of its mandate in capacitating the underprivileged, in this case the farmers.
He added the project is anchored on DHSUD’s BALAI concept or Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable and Inclusive Filipino Communities.
“When Sec. Castriciones first told me about this project, I immediately said ‘approved without thinking’ because I believe it is doable, supportable and achievable,” he stressed.
“It is part of our responsibility to help informal settler families, especially the poorest of the poor, and capacitate them together with our key shelter agencies for them to be able to have a house of their own,” he noted.
Del Rosario said the project consists of three phases – availability or acquisition of land; land development and housing construction.
LGUs are responsible for securing a property for the housing scheme. Land development will be shouldered by DHSUD through the utilization of the balanced housing compliance while the housing construction will be implemented in coordination with DHSUD key shelter agencies such as the Pag-Ibig Fund, the Social Housing Finance Corporation and the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation.
Castriciones lauded the event and described it as a “monumental” day, especially for the farmers.
“This is a milestone. I hope we would be able to sustain this. I hope that in God’s grace, we will achieve our vision of uplifting the economic lives of our farmers. We must work hand in hand because in unity, there is strength,” the DAR chief said.
Nineteen LGUs that previously met requirements will benefit from the MOUs signed last Thursday in celebration of the 33rd anniversary of the Comprehensive Land Reform Program.
