DHSUD, SHFC Ramp Up Community Housing Program

In compliance with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s push for people-centric programs, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) are going full blast in the implementation of its Community Mortgage Program (CMP) nationwide.

This, after DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling approved the proposal of SHFC President and CEO Federico Laxa on Wednesday for the revival of initially 34 on-site CMP projects in various parts of the country.

The initial 34 on-site CMP projects will benefit about 5,000 member-beneficiaries

“We need to prioritize high-impact and implementable CMP projects and assist our beneficiaries transform their communities,” Secretary Aliling said.

“Alinsunod po ito sa utos ng Pangulong Marcos Jr. sa pagsusulong ng mga pro-poor at people-centered housing programs,” he added.

The DHSUD chief said that the revival of the CMP projects by SHFC will further boost the implementation of President Marcos Jr.’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

In his presentation, Laxa stressed that the priority CMP projects will be readied for the initial awarding of lots and could be subjected for further development in the future. He said these CMPs have been in the pipeline for years now.

The plan could be extended to incremental housing, when member-beneciaries are able to afford housing improvements with the assistance of the government.

“We will be more transformative with our CMP projects now, with consideration to incorporating development in our sites,” Laxa said.

It will be recalled that during the initial implementation of the 4PH, all CMP projects were placed on hold as the program was focused on vertical housing.

The DHSUD and SHFC are eyeing October to start awarding the CMP sites to the member-beneficiaries.

The CMP is a people-led housing finance and community development program implemented by the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) which assists legally organized associations of low-income groups to acquire and develop a tract of land under the concept of community ownership. Its primary objective is to assist residents of blighted or depressed areas to own the lots they occupy, or where they choose to relocate to, and eventually create sustainable and resilient communities.