ILOILO City – Today marks another significant milestone in the city government’s thrust to provide decent housing to informal settler families (ISF).
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) will be signed today by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), the Iloilo City Government and the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG for residential projects under DHSUD’s flagship program “Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino: Zero ISF Program for 2028” or the 4PH Program.
The 4PH Program is a government housing project in tandem with other key shelter agencies which aims to service the housing needs of the Philippines for over six million by 2028.
For Iloilo City, around 10,000 housing units are allotted.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), during Monday’s special session, passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Jerry Treñas to enter into the said memorandum of agreement.
“The Iloilo City Government, DHSUD, and Pag-IBIG have expressed their willingness to complement each other and jointly pursue the objectives of the 4PH Program developing more or less 10,000 housing units in Iloilo City and providing the necessary support and assistance to implement the housing loan program for the Iloilo City’s target beneficiaries,” read part of Treñas’ letter to the SP.
According to Treñas, Pag-IBIG as one of the key shelter agencies attached to the DHSUD has made its fund available for the development of housing projects under the 4PH Program through its Pag-IBIG Direct Development Loan Program, or may participate by providing end-user financing to homebuyers.
In September 2022, the city government entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with DHSUD with a commitment to execute documents such as but not limited to a MOA to provide for, among others, effectuating the commitments and obligations of the concerned parties relative to the development of housing units in the city under the 4PH Program.
Meanwhile, of the 10,000 housing units through DHSUD, an initial 1,200 units will be built at the city’s relocation site in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro and will be called “Uswag Residential Complex.”
“Aside from informal settler families (ISFs) residing along danger zones, city hall employees, as long as they are qualified, may apply as beneficiaries,” said Treñas.
Applicants should be residents of the city and head or breadwinner of the family.
“This is just the start…sige ang aton land banking as preparation for more housing units,” said Treñas.
Land banking is acquiring parcels of land for low-rise housing developments with the goal of providing affordable, safe and durable houses to the homeless.
Aside from DHSUD, the city government is also banking on the help of the National Housing Authority (NHA).
The city government is borrowing P200-million from Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) for the said purpose.
Treñas said the city government is eyeing a total of 13-hectare property as relocation sites specifically in Barangay Tacas, Jaro; and barangays Baluarte, West Habog-Habog and San Juan in Molo district.
It seeks to solve the housing backlog in the city which stands at around 15,000.
“After 10 years, we want to see no more informal settlers; Ilonggo families will have safe and decent homes to improve their quality of life,”Treñas stressed.
Today’s MOA signing to be held at the Iloilo City Hall will be represented by Secretary Hose Rizalino L. Acuzar for DHSUD; Marilene Acosta, chief executive officer of Pag-IBIG Fund; and Treñas for the Iloilo City Government with the assistance of Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (ICUPAO) head Rony Firmeza.
The event will also be graced by Iloilo City Lone District’s Rep. Julienne “Jam” Baronda; Uswag Ilonggo party-list’s Rep. James “Jojo” Ang; Engr. Noli D. Armada, OIC VP for Visayas and Mindanao Housing Lending Operations, Pag-IBIG; DHSUD undersecretary Roland Samuel T. Young; Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, and all city councilors, department heads and executive assistants.
This housing program in partnership with DHSUD is apart from the ongoing housing projects involving hundreds of housing units implemented by the NHA through the initiatives of then Ilonggo senator Franklin Drilon and Baronda.
On top of these, the city government is also building 120 socialized condominium units for its low-salaried employees, also in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro.
This project is in partnership with SM Development Corporation (SMDC). The budget came from the 15 percent of the housing balance compliance of SMDC nationwide./PN
