The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development has partnered with three local governments in Mindanao to provide sustainable, resilient, and affordable housing units to Filipinos, especially the underprivileged.
Secretary Eduardo del Rosario has entered into an agreement with Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista; Magsaysay, Davao del Sur Mayor Arthur Davin, and M’Lang, North Cotabato Mayor Russel Abonado for the development of socialized housing projects under the Duterte administration’s flagship program BALAI (Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable, and Inclusive) Filipino communities.
“These MOAs are testament to the Duterte administration’s commitment to continue providing decent and affordable housing and sustainable communities to underprivileged Filipinos in rural areas through a whole-of-nation approach and close coordination with LGUs,” del Rosario said.
“By establishing effective partnership with LGUs, DHSUD will be able to reach out and assist more Filipinos who wish to have a house of their own,” he added.
The agreements were designed to assist local government units with their BALAI-certified socialized housing programs using funds from the incentivized compliance of private developers to balanced housing.
For Kidapawan, the pact will pave the way for the development of relocation sites in Ilomavis and Indangan, intended for the victims of earthquakes that jolted the city back in October 2019.
Five multi-purpose facilities located in various socialized relocation sites in the municipality of Magsaysay are now in the pipeline.
For M’Lang, the arrangement would benefit recipients of relocation projects in Lepaga and New Esperanza.
Del Rosario said the partnership is a welcome opportunity for DHSUD to show LGUs the direction being set by the national government with regards to housing and urban development.