DHSUD partners with DAR, LGUs for farmer housing
THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said it entered into agreements with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and 19 local government units (LGUs) to develop housing for farmers.
The DHSUD said in a statement Sunday that the program aims to establish decent and affordable housing communities for farmers.
Housing Secretary Eduardo D. del Rosario signed memoranda of understanding with the DAR and LGUs for the housing project.
“It is part of our responsibility to help informal settler families, especially the poorest of the poor, and capacitate them together with our key shelter agencies for them to be able to have a house of their own,” Mr. Del Rosario said.
“It also aims to uplift farmers’ morale and strengthen their emotional attachment to their farms; this in turn will help empower the agricultural industry,” he added.
LGUs are responsible for securing property for the housing scheme, while DHSUD will be in charge of land development.
Construction funding will be the responsibility of the Pag-IBIG Fund, the Social Housing Finance Corp., and the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp.
“This is a milestone. I hope we can sustain this,” Agrarian Reform Secretary John R. Castriciones said.
“This is a convergent effort. We need the cooperation of LGUs and other government agencies,” he added.
The DHSUD said farmers and fisherfolk were identified as the poorest members of society with a 34% poverty rate between 2006 to 2015, citing Philippine Statistics Authority data.
Other participants in the project are the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, which will provide additional livelihood options for farmers and their families. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
