The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) on Thursday cited Bacolod City for implementing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing program.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar commended the grit and determination of the Bacolod City government in pushing for the implementation of the administration’s flagship shelter program.
He cited Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez’s determination to provide decent, safe and affordable shelters to informal settler families under the program. Rio N. Araja
The city has become the first local government unit to seal a joint venture agreement for a public-private partnership for the implementation of housing projects intended for the informal settlers.
“The Bacolod City’s constant enthusiasm to bring the agreements we signed into action on the ground should serve as an inspiration, worthy of emulation among local government units, and the program implementers in general,” Acuzar said.
“We should see through the initiatives that we engage in until they become concrete outcomes our kababayans can benefit from and enjoy. Kudos, Mayor Albee,” he added.
Bacolod City was also among the first ocal government that embraced the concepts of Pambasang Pabahay” after signing a memorandum of understanding with DHSUD immediately after the program was launched in September 2022.
Benitez has already submitted to the Sangguniang Panlungsod the joint venture agreement between the LGU and a private consortium to pave the way for the start of ground works for the Asenso Yuhum housing project in Barangay Vista Alegre where groundbreaking was also held September last year.
Benitez, in a statement, stressed the move supports LGUs partnership with the DHSUD toward attaining the goal of Pambansang Pabahay “as it firms up the strong chances of the city ISFs to have decent homes they can call their own.”
The JVA-PPP is expected to strengthen the partnership among key players and pool the requirements for the fruition of the housing project.
Under the arrangement, the city government shall provide the land for settlements where the housing units shall be built, while DHSUD is expected to offer interest subsidy to ISFs who are qualified to take-out housing loans from Pag-IBIG Fund.
The private consortium commits to build human settlements/housing units for the ISFs in Bacolod City, in two sets of 10,000 units each.