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DHSUD, DAR join hands to build houses for Pangasinan farmers

By Lade Jean Kabagani

December 7, 2020, 7:04 pm

<p><strong>HOUSING PROGRAM FOR FARMERS.</strong> Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones (left) and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Eduardo del Rosario sign a memorandum of agreement and a memorandum of understanding on Friday (Dec. 4, 2020) for the rollout of housing programs for Pangasinan farmers. The program also targets to improve the quality of life of the local farmers and other farm workers. <em>(Contributed photo by DHSUD)</em></p>

HOUSING PROGRAM FOR FARMERS. Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones (left) and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Eduardo del Rosario sign a memorandum of agreement and a memorandum of understanding on Friday (Dec. 4, 2020) for the rollout of housing programs for Pangasinan farmers. The program also targets to improve the quality of life of the local farmers and other farm workers. (Contributed photo by DHSUD)

MANILA – The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has partnered with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the private sector to roll out housing projects for some 184 agrarian reform farmer-beneficiaries in Pangasinan.

Housing czar Eduardo del Rosario described the housing project as "a huge boost on government efforts to uplift the living conditions of local farmers" by providing them decent, adequate, and affordable housing units.

The DHSUD, along with DAR, Ayala Land Corp., and the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC) have earlier signed a memorandum of agreement and a memorandum of understanding for the development of the Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable and Inclusive Filipino Communities Program (BALAI) housing project which seek to provide adequate and affordable shelters to farmers and other farm workers.

Del Rosario said the government targets to improve the economic status of farmers.

"Napakaganda nitong programa na ito dahil ina-address na niya yung (This is a very good program because it will address the) poverty incidence sa (in) provinces and it also prevents internal migration to the metropolis," del Rosario said in a statement.

He added that some farmers choose to migrate to other places rather than continue taking care of their farms due to poverty.

"Napakaraming andito sa (Many of them are here in) NCR [National Capital Region], Metro Manila, Region 4-A (Calabarzon), dito nagre-reside (they reside here), they would like to migrate because naghihirap (of poverty), so this program aims to minimize poverty and spur economic activity in the regions," del Rosario said, noting that the strategy was inspired by the national government's Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) program.

Del Rosario, meanwhile, lauded the ongoing convergence among the agreements' signatories, adding that "empowering the housing and urban development sector will be enhanced if government agencies, local government units (LGUs) and stakeholders in the private sector will continue working together."

Under the agreements, the 184 housing units are expected to be constructed on a 2.6-hectare land owned by the Umingan, Pangasinan LGU which are intended to benefit farmer-beneficiaries.

Del Rosario noted that the housing department and DAR along with its private-partner developers are determined to build more resilient housing units to benefit more local farmers, under the current administration.

According to the DHSUD, the BALAI Farmers Housing Program is a holistic and comprehensive solution aimed at achieving inclusive growth by means of uplifting the quality of lives of farmers, particularly the agrarian reform beneficiaries, through housing, livelihood, education, and technological innovation.

Through the program, DHSUD targets to tap the participation of more private housing developers for balanced housing compliance and facilitate affordable housing loans through the department’s key shelter agencies (KSAs) and other government financial institutions.

Under the program, DHSUD said DAR will spearhead government efforts with regards to the provision of livelihood activities as an integral component of the housing program, to ensure sustainable productivity of the farmers.

Prior to this program, DHSUD has already piloted housing sites in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, San Jose City in Nueva Ecija, Basey in Samar, Argao, Cebu, Daet in Camarines Norte and in Calinan, Davao City. (PNA)

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