MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / May 27, 2014) – The Department of Budget and Management said it released some P1.2 billion to the Social Housing Finance Corporation to roll out housing projects for informal settlers in Metro Manila.
Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said the project will adopt the so-called Community Mortgage Program approach through which an organized community will initiate and manage the housing project itself.
He said the organizing community will likewise be in charge of securing funding support from the SHFC.
“We are continuing the relocation of informal settler families, especially those living near the waterways of Metro Manila. With the fund release, the SHFC can build more resilient homes in safer zones—such as in-city and off-city relocation sites—and ensure the well-being of these families, especially during calamities. This is of course in line with our efforts to provide quality and affordable homes to those who need them the most,” Abad said.
“As an added feature to this housing project, the Administration is empowering communities to participate and be more involved in implementing the program. We are opening up opportunities for them to take the lead in the whole project: from land acquisition to site development, to the actual building construction,” he added.
Among the organized communities that will implement the housing projects are the Goldmine Interior Homeowners Association, Inc., the Alyansa ng Mamamayan sa Valenzuela at Caloocan Housing Cooperative, and the Dario River Alliance Housing Cooperative.
Of the total P1.2-billion release, GIHAI, AMVACA, and DRAHC were allotted P46 million, P636.5 million, and P514.5 million, respectively.
Abad said the administrative cost includes the wages of SHFC personnel who will be assisting the organized communities throughout the whole process and these include, but are not limited to, program consultation, due diligence of ISF eligibility, review of technical plans and legal documents, and assistance in the preparation of project proposals.
“Major investments in social services like these are at the core of our inclusive growth agenda. The beauty of this project, however, is its participative nature. The families themselves will be actively engaged in executing the project. It’s nation-building at the community level,” Abad said.
While Abad released the funding to informal settler families in so-called danger areas in Matro Manila, victims of war in Zamboanga City continue to suffer from diseases in filthy evacuation centers.
More than 120 refugees had died from diseases since September last year following simultaneous attacks by members of the Moro National Liberation that sparked three weeks of fierce fighting that killed and wounded more than 400 people. Over 120,000 residents were affected by the fighting.
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