DBM allots P188M to Social Housing for Manila's informal settlers

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allotted P188 million to the Social Housing Finance Corp. to fund three housing projects for informal settlers in Metro Manila, the department said in a statement Monday.

 

The funding will be charged against the Fiscal Year 2014 General Appropriations Act, the DBM noted.

 

“We’re continually developing safe communities for informal settlers via government housing programs because they serve a dual purpose," Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said.

 

"First of all, we ensure the fruits of our economic development will be felt by our less fortunate countrymen by giving them a chance to own their homes," he said. "Second, we also protect the poor, the vulnerable, and the marginalized from future disasters caused by climate change."

 

The DBM said one of the projects under Social Housing is the Responsableng Samahang Pampamayanan (RSP) Village Phase I Homeowners Association Inc. 

 

The government is buying land for RSP to cover 1,504 informal settler families living along Dahlia Creek, Darlo River, San Juan River, Tullahan River, Diliman Creek, and Payatas Dumpsite.

 

Social Housing will finance two other projects – Bistekville II Block 6 and Block 16 – through loans. These projects involve 132 families that live along the Tullahan and San Juan rivers, according to the department. The local government of Quezon City is building the houses.

 

“These projects are part of the national government’s pledge to the Daang Matuwid, and our commitment to leave no one behind in our journey towards economic growth. By spending on the right priorities, we not only sustain equal opportunities for all Filipinos but also improve their quality of life. This is what inclusive development ultimately means,” Abad noted.

 

The projects are adopting the Community Mortgage Program, in which an organized community starts and manages the housing project as they secure funding support from Social Housing.

 

Last year, Social Housing received P3.67 billion in total subsidies, of which P3.62 billion has been released by the department.

 

This year, Social Housing will receive a total of P3.74 billion, the department said. – Danessa O. Rivera/VS, GMA News