QUEZON CITY -- Representatives from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC), twenty (20) local government units (LGUs), and agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) recently signed a memorandum of understanding to finance and provide livable and affordable housing to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) nationwide.

“A house is a dream of every Filipino, let us not just build it on the lands we gave to our farmers,  but in the hearts and minds of our ARBs,” said DAR Undersecretary for Support Services Office Atty. Emily Padilla during the signing of the MOU.

She disclosed that the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has been the DAR’s partner from the very start when DAR was still dreaming for the farmers to have their own decent housing through the Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable and Inclusive (BALAI) Filipino Communities Program. 

The NHMFC she said came at the right time to be able to finance the project and expressed her gratitude for making the dream a reality.

Padilla explained that the LGUs are responsible for securing a property for the housing scheme, while the DHSUD will be in charge of land development.

“NHMFC   has been mandated to develop and provide for a secondary market for home mortgages granted by public or private home financing institutions and has accordingly created the housing loan receivables purchase program (HLRPPs) to provide a liquidity facility for public and private originators,” Padilla said.

She added that the ARBOs will be responsible for the housing loan receivables of the farmers and agreed to avail the HLRPP of the NHMFC.

“The ARBO, in partnership with the DAR, will also engage and oversee the services of the contractor and co-supervise the construction and development of the housing project,” she said.

DHSUD Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations Daryll Bryan Villanueva said the housing project is a huge boost to government efforts to uplift the living conditions of local farmers by providing them decent, adequate, and affordable housing units.

“Today’s MOU signing signifies the commitment of the department, NHMFC, LGUs, and the ARBO to the DAR-BALAI farmers housing program, and that through this partnership we are one step closer to addressing the unenviable task of reducing the housing backlog, and simultaneously improving the lives of the farmers,” Villanueva said.

NHMFC President Carlo Luis Rabat acknowledged the role of the farmers in food security and contribution to the economy and expressed his gratefulness for this undertaking by providing them with a more secure and comfortable life.

The MOU was signed by DAR Undersecretary Emily Padilla, DHSUD Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations Daryll Bryan Villanueva, NHMFC President Carlo Luis P. Rabat,  twenty (20)  LGU representatives and ARBOs officers.

The 20 LGU representatives are from the municipalities of  Alaminos and Labrador in Pangasinan;  Sta. Lucia and San Emilio in Ilocos Sur; Naguilan and Quezon, Isabela; Llanera , Nueva Ecija; Panukulan, Quezon; Broke’s Point, Palawan; Guinobatan, Albay; Canaman, Camarines Sur; Mina and Banate, Iloilo; Pulupandan and Valladolid, Negros Occidental; Kolambugan and Magsaysay, Lanao del Norte; Opol, Misamis Oriental; Matanao, Davao del Sur; and Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte. (DAR)