LEGAZPI CITY, ALBAY (PIA) – Some 200 farmers in Albay will finally have a place that they can call home.  

This will be made possible with the construction of low-cost housing units under the Building, Adequate, Livable, Affordable, and Inclusive Filipino Communities (BALAI) project, a joint undertaking of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).\

Now,  homeless farmers can have a chance to live in the comfort and security of concrete and fully-furnished homes. 

DAR Bicol OIC Director Rodrigo Realubit said the bungalow-type housing units will be constructed on a 2.6-hectare parcel of land in Barangay Upper Binogsacan donated by the local government of Guinobatan.

“This initiative not only intends to provide the poor with a home but also to honor our unsung heroes—our farmers, who are among the most neglected sectors of our society,” he said.

Housing and livelihood facilities

Realubit said each house costs P520,000.00, which will be paid by farmers over a maximum of 25 years at only 2 to 3% annual interest or monthly amortization of P1,500 – P2,500.

 “The 36-square-meter concrete homes will have two bedrooms, one toilet with electricity and water connections, a granite kitchen, tiled floors, and completely painted interior and exterior walls,” Realubit said.

DAR Albay OIC Patricia Rastrullo said that aside from the houses, the DAR will provide livelihood programs for the beneficiaries within the location to make the housing package financially inclusive to the farmers.

She commended Vice Mayor Ann Gemma Ongjoco for supporting and providing the land for the housing project.

"This is a milestone. We are very thankful for this initiative which will create modest and affordable dwelling units for our farmers. Through this project, their families will have the opportunity not only to live in a more comfortable home but also to improve their lives and economic condition," Rastrullo said.

Ongoing validation

DAR Albay project focal Athea Padua Papina said that of the 200 housing units, 70% or 170 units are for agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) who are members of the Albay Dairy Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Guinobatan, Albay, while the remaining units will be allotted by the LGU to other low-income farmers in the area.

“DAR Albay is currently conducting validation of potential ARBs to ensure that the housing units will indeed be given to deserving beneficiaries. We are targeting to finish the validation by October this year,” Padua said.

Padua said the project is targeted to be finished within two to three years. (PIA5/Albay/DAR5)