CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga (PIA) — Home ownership is now within reach of low-income workers in Kalinga with the launching of the government’s flagship housing program in the province’s capital.
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Assistant Secretary Daryll Bryan Villanueva along with Gov. James S. Edduba and other local officials on Thursday (Aug. 28), led the ground-breaking of the Lumin-awa Residences at sitio Callagdao, Bulanao, Tabuk City.
The first Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) housing project in the Cordillera, the Lumin-awa Residences is a township project spanning two hectares and features nine five-floor buildings, each with 125 socialized housing condo units, providing a total of 1,125 housing units. It will be constructed by the Bangyan 3D Construction.
Based on the site development plan, the housing project allocates ample space for parks and other recreational amenities, ensuring good living conditions for future residents.
The 4PH is the government’s solution to the country’s housing backlog, aiming to provide decent and affordable homes to low-income Filipinos.
“Ang 4PH ang tutugon sa pangarap ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Basta ikaw ay isang Pilipino na nagsusumikap sa buhay, ikaw po ay maaaring maging beneficiary ng programang ito,” Villanueva said in his keynote message.
“This program assures that the houses to be turned over to the beneficiaries will provide them a home, a place of relaxation, a place they can call their own,” the official said.
Under the program, eligible beneficiaries avail of housing units through a loan with the Pag-IBIG Fund, the interest of which will be subsidized by the DHSUD, resulting in lower monthly amortization.
“Kung nuon, mayayaman lang ang pwedeng makapag-loan para magkaroon ng bahay. Ngayon, nagawan na ng paraan ng ating gobyerno na kahit hindi mayaman ay pwedeng makapag-housing loan,” Villanueva said.
The provincial government committed to helping the project succeed.
“On the part of the provincial government, we are committed to ensuring the success of the project. The [provincial government] will provide full support, guaranteeing the project will meet all the standards that is required from us,” Edduba said.
With the provincial government responsible for identifying beneficiaries, the governor promised a fair and transparent selection process.
Edduba said the Provincial Planning and Development Office and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office are tasked with the job of profiling possible beneficiaries.
According to Pag-IBIG, eligible for the program are individuals who meet the following criteria: first-time homeowners, within low-income classification, not more than 65 year-old at the date of application and not more than 70 year-old at loan maturity, and have the legal capacity to acquire and encumber real property.
The applicant must pass satisfactory background/credit and employment/business checks of the Pag-IBIG Fund; has no outstanding Pag-IBIG Short-term Loan at the time of application; has No PAG-IBIG Housing account foreclosed, canceled, bought back, or subjected to dacion en pago; and must not be a recipient of any housing project of the government or private sector, whether such unit had been fully paid or not or canceled.(IOS, PIA-CAR, Kalinga)
