To benefit Soccsksargen ISFs

THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has signed deals with five local government units (LGUs) in Region 12 (Central Mindanao) to commence activities for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s (PBBM) “Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program” on Wednesday.

The partnerships will build condominium-type housing projects, which will help address the housing needs in the region (covers Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat).

DHSUD has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with General Santos City, Koronadal City, and Polomolok in South Cotabato, Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat, and the Province of South Cotabato.

DHSUD Undersecretary Samuel Young, representing Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, led the MOU signing activity in Koronadal City with DHSUD Regional Office 12 Director Jennifer Bretaña, joined by local chief executives and officials.

“We brought [an] even better program concept to help informal settler families, including indigenous people in Region 12,” said Young during the MOU signing ceremony.

Prior to this, Young visited Badjao and informal settler communities in General Santos City, living on shorelines and other danger zones.

Bretaña said the LGUs will provide land as equity, identify the beneficiaries and undertake the project, which will be enrolled in the Pambansang Pabahay.

Based on the released plans, these condo-type housing projects will be built in Barangay San Jose in Koronadal City, Barangay Cannery Site in Polomolok, Barangay San Pablo in Tacurong City, and Barangay Mabuhay in General Santos City.

“Ngayon po kapag na-enroll ang beneficiaries ng ating LGUs makaka-avail din po ang mga beneficiaries ng five percent na subsidy ng kanilang housing loan from the national government. Ibig sabihin 1% na lang per annum na housing loan interest ang babayaran ng mga beneficiaries natin. Para po ito maging affordable para sa mga low income families natin, informal sector families na nangangarap na magkaroon ng sariling bahay,” Bretaña explained.

In Region 12, which consists of four provinces, data from DHSUD revealed that there are 148,253 informal settler families (ISFs) as of July 2022.

Under the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program, DHSUD and its key shelter agencies are tasked to build one million houses annually in the next six years to address the country’s housing backlog pegged at more than 6.5 million units.

As of writing, DHSUD has conducted 12 groundbreaking activities and signed 40 MOUs and a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).