BAY, Laguna (PIA) — A peaceful and secure living environment for disadvantaged individuals and their families is set to rise in Bay town in Laguna with a new socialized, low-cost housing project initiated by the local government.
The Municipal Government of Bay together with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Region 4-A and the Home Development Mutual Fund or the PAG-IBIG Fund broke ground on Tuesday, March 21 for the Balai Bayeños project. Construction is being eyed to begin this year.
A joint project of Bay town and the DHSUD IV-A, this well-planned community located in Brgy. Dila is expected to boost the local economy once the housing complex is completed and the facilities and access to the bypass road has been set up.
It will feature a community facility, plant nursery, basketball court, transportation terminal, a Super Health Center by the Department of Health (DOH) to be equipped with modern medical equipment, and access to the Canlubang-Bay Bypass Road and Development Project by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Citing his experiences as a father, Mayor Jose Padrid said he understands the struggle of underprivileged families to have their own home and, in the process, reduce their cost of living.
“Bilang isang ama, batid ko po ang pangangailangan ng isang pamilya [sa] isang bahay na masisilungan at higit sa lahat ay isang tahanan kung saan nila bububuin at aabutin ang kanilang mga pangarap,” Padrid said.
Padrid said another phase of the project is in the works where they aim to distribute free house and lot units to individuals who don’t have the capacity to pay a PAG-IBIG housing loan.
“Ang mga susunod na phase po ay sinisikap ng pamahalaang bayan ng Bay na mabigyan ang mga wala talagang kakakayahan na magbayad upang hindi lamang libreng lupa ngunit mga disenteng bahay ay maging libreng sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng mga partnership,” Padrid added.
PAG-IBIG Fund Senior Vice President Fermin Sta. Teresa Jr. noted that the Balai Bayeños project is a pioneering housing program as it offers the tract of land for free while the beneficiary shoulders the cost of building the house.
“Bihira po na we encounter such program where the property, especially the land will be offered free. The site development is free, then yung interest rate natin sa PAG-IBIG will be the lowest in the market more so if this will be covered under the 4PH program,” Sta. Teresa pointed out.
DHSUD IV-A Regional Director Otero, meanwhile highlighted the significance of the new housing project as part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) program and the department’s “Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable and Inclusive” Filipino Communities or BALAI housing program.
Municipal Administrator Jayca Zyrah Padrid told Philippine Information Agency Laguna that beneficiaries for the project’s Phase 1 are chosen based on the following: that they should be a current resident of Bay, job order workers of the local government, residents living in danger zones or informal settlers, willing to reside in the actual housing unit, and net pay of beneficiaries.
Joining Mayor Padrid in the groundbreaking ceremony were Laguna 2nd District Rep. Ruth Mariano-Hernandez, Laguna Provincial Urban Development and Housing Officer Benjie Malabanan, senior officials of the PAG-IBIG Fund and Bay town’s department heads.
The ceremony ended with the ceremonial planting of garden flowers as Bay, known as the ‘Garden Capital of Laguna,’ signified its commitment along with partner government agencies to develop the housing complex. (CH/PIA-Laguna)
