The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has sealed partnerships with local officials in Davao region and in Northern Luzon for the construction of affordable housing for informal settler families and those under the low-income bracket.
In Eastern Mindanao, DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said he has secured the commitment of Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao Secretary Leo Tereso Magno for the mass housing in the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao Del Sur, Davao Oriental and Davao de Oro.
He said the commitment was expressed through a Memorandum of Understand (MOU) that would pave the way for joint undertaking of housing projects in the four provinces in eastern Mindanao.
In Northern Luzon, three more municipalities in Ilocos Norte and Cagayan and Aparri have signed up for housing program: Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte Mayor Rafael Benemerito II; Mayor Esterlina Aguinaldo of Santa Praxedes in Cagayan, and Aparri Mayor Bryan Dale Chan.
Under “Pambansang Pabahay,” the DHSUD is tasked to build one million houses annually until 2028 to address the housing backlog pegged at 6.5 million units.
Since its launching last September, at least 15 local government units throughout the country have broken ground for their respective housing projects, while some 73 others have signed MOUs.
The program has already gained the support of several government financial institutions, led by the Pag-IBIG Fund which allocated P250 billion for the 4PH, while the President vowed to secure the initial P1 billion funding this year for the interest support.