Bacolod lauded for supporting ‘Pambansang Pabahay’

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar on Thursday commended the grit and determination of the Bacolod City government in pushing for the implementation of the administration’s flagship Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program.

Secretary Acuzar cited Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez’s determination to provide decent, safe and affordable shelters to informal settler families (ISFs), through President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s ‘Pambansang Pabahay’.

This, after Bacolod City on Tuesday became the first local government unit (LGU) to seal a joint venture agreement (JVA) for a public-private partnership (PPP) for the implementation of housing projects intended for the city’s ISFs.

“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,” Secretary 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!” the DHSUD chief added.

Bacolod City, under the leadership of Mayor Benitez, was also among the first local LGUs which embraced the concepts of “Pambansang Pabahay’ after signing a memorandum of understanding with Secretary Acuzar immediately after the program was launched last September.

Mayor Benitez has already submitted to the Sangguniang Panlungsod the JVA between the LGU and a private consortium that would pave the way for the start of ground works for the Asenso Yuhum Housing Project in Barangay Vista Alegre where groundbreaking were also held September last year.

In a statement, Mayor Benitez said 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, which Mayor Benitez considers as the city’s contribution to the ‘Pambansang Pabahay’.

Under the JVA, the city government shall provide the land for settlements where the housing units shall be built. Meanwhile, 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. The constitution of the buildings shall be undertaken by the private proponent at no cost to the City of Bacolod and DHSUD.

The ’Pambansang Pabahay’ promotes JVA-PPP as one of its main strategies to support the financial and technical needs of the program.