KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development's (DSHUD) mission for zero informal settler families (ISF) in 2028 is "doable," an official of the department said.
Dr. Melissa Aradanas, DHSUD assistant secretary for bureaus, told Philippine Information Agency that addressing the over 6.5 million housing gap in the country in six years "is doable in the sense that it is going to be a whole of government approach."
Asec. Aradanas visited Koronadal City on Friday, October 28, for the launching of the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino: Zero ISF 2028 Program in Soccsksargen Region.
She said, DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar and the department's executive committee have secured the support and inputs of all government financial institutions, namely: PagIBIG, GSIS, SSS, Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines and other entities, "para maayos natin ang program flow ng project. Lahat naman sila nag-agree na it is doable basta tulong-tulong tayo."
"Lahat naman ng bagay, pagdating sa services na ginagawa ng gobyerno hindi talaga magiging possible or hindi siya magsa-succeed kung gobyerno lang. Kailangan natin ang suporta ng lahat. Pagdating sa private sector, nakausap na rin ni Secretary, in fact, last night we had a dinner with President Bongbong Marcos Jr. Kasama doon ang mga private sector banks, private banks --top 5 private banks ng Philippines-- ang nandoon. Kaya kami sa DHSUD naniniwala na this is doable," Aradanas said.
Asec. Aradanas emphasized that while the program is national in scope, local government units are the main players in the attainment of the zero ISF goal under PBBM's administration.
"Kami ang tutulong para ma-facilitate whatever it is na kakailanganin nila to make this program possible," she said, explaining further that LGUs have the jurisdiction over areas where the potential beneficiaries live.
"Sila (LGUs) ang mag-a-identify ng potential beneficiaries. Sila rin ang nakakaalam kung sinu-sino ba itong mga nangangailangan ng pabahay sa kanilang mga jurisdiction," she said.
LGUs may draw out loans from the government financial institutions for implementation of housing projects in their respective localities, she added.
Through the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program: Zero ISF in 2028, the government intends to construct 1 million housing units per year for 6 years.
Under this strategy, the government will subsidize 5 percent of the the 6 percent interest on housing loans.
This will mean, for example, that for a P580,000 socialized housing unit, a beneficiary family only pays P1,912 per month for 30 years. The amount may be reduced further if the LGU could provide the land for the housing project and support for the amortization.
Asec. Aradanas, pointed out that although the Pabahay program won't be free, the burden of paying the amortization won't be too much of a burden for the beneficiaries with government support and provision of income-generating opportunities. (PIA XII)
