DHSUD expands housing program in Region 12 to help informal settlers, IPs

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development expanded the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino housing program in Region 12, signing Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with General Santos City, Koronadal City, and Polomolok in South Cotabato, Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat and Province of South Cotabato.

In a press release, DHSUD said that the partnerships would see the construction of condominium-type housing projects 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.

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

Also present were DHSUD Regional Office 12 Director Jennifer Bretaña, and local chief executives and officials.

Young also visited Badjao and informal settler communities in General Santos City that were living on shorelines and other danger zones.

Director Bretaña said the LGUs would provide land as equity, identify the beneficiaries and undertake the project as part of the Pambansang Pabahay program.

"Ngayon po kapag na-enroll ang beneficiaries ng ating LGUs makaka-avail din po ang mga beneficiaries ng 5 percent na subsidy ng kanilang housing loan from the national government. Ibig sabihin one percent 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,” Director Bretaña explained.

According to the data from DHSUD, there are 148,253 informal settler families in Region 12 as of July 2022.

The housing program, DHSUD, and key shelter agencies are tasked to build 1 million houses annually in the next six years to address the country’s housing backlog pegged at more than 6.5 million units.

“DHSUD has conducted 12 groundbreaking activities and signed 40 MOUs and a Memorandum of Agreement,” it added. — DVM, GMA Integrated News