The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has secured funding for the development of resettlement sites and building of homes for Abra residents whose houses were either totally or partially destroyed during the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit Northern Luzon on July 27.
DHSUD Sec. Jose Rizalino Acuzar said the beneficiaries of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) he signed with the SM Development Corporation (SMDC) are mostly from the towns of Tayum and Bucay, two of the worst-hit areas of the strong tremor.
Acuzar said the MOU will pave the way for the exploration of options for the affected residents with shelter and permanent housing assistance through the SMDC’s incentivized compliance to the Balanced Housing Development Program.
This includes rental subsidy, purchase of land as relocation site and land development.
“Our plan of developing resettlement sites is already in place,” said Acuzar.
Acuzar has earlier initiated preliminary talks with some of the biggest developers in the country to fast-tack recovery and rehabilitation efforts in the quake-affected areas, particularly in terms of safe and sustainable housing programs.
He also asked the LGU in the area to study potential subsidized housing projects for its constituents with assistance from the national government.