DAVAO CITY- In the aftermath of the Feb. 25 fire which struck a densely populated barangay in Davao City that destroyed 1,200 houses, the City Government along with the national government is keen on implementing the flagship housing program dubbed as Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino or the 4PH.

“We are going to the process in pushing for the housing program,” says Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao Sec. Leo Abellera Magno after their meeting with Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte.

Sec. Magno accompanied Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sec. Rex Gatchalian in a meeting with Mayor Sebastian Duterte where they went to the temporary evacuation center at the covered court in Barangay 21-C. The DSWD led by Sec. Gatchalian turned over relief packages to the victims of the fire.

“The important thing is how to move on from this,” says Magno. During their meeting among the discussions in moving forward is providing housing for the affected residents.

He said the LGU’s role is to identify the beneficiaries, by next week officials from the Department of Housing Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) will be meeting with the City Government for the program.

“Gumagalaw na (it is moving) in constant communication kami with the city government,” Magno said of the housing program.

The administration of President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. has committed to build six million housing units under the 4PH.

“Ang proyektong ito at iba pang pabahay ng 4PH ay para sa minimum wage earners, informal settlers, mga nakatira sa danger zones at sa mga kababayan nating naghahangad ng mura, simple at komportableng bahay (This project and other housing projects of 4PH is for the minimum wage earners, informal setters and those living in danger zones and our countrymen yearning for an affordable, simple and comfortable home),” President Marcos said during his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Cebu City South Urban Development Housing Project on Monday (Feb. 27).

On Feb. 16, Sec. Magno and DHSUD Sec. Jose Rizalino Acuzar signed a Memorandum of Understanding where the DHSUD and the OPAMINE (Office of the Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao will collaborate with housing projects in Eastern Mindanao comprising Davao del Norte, Davao Del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, and Davao City.  (PIA/RG Alama cover photo by Roland Jumawan-OPAMINE )