PROVIDING ASSISTANCE THROUGH PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

The Vice President led the housing agencies in the implementation of housing projects catering to various sectors.

Aside from the formulation of policies and programs to address the housing sector’s needs, Binay acknowledged that speedy action in assisting our fellow Filipinos is vital. In 2011, the housing czar instructed the shelter agencies to assist and support Filipinos affected by the conflict in the Middle East and North Africa, the tsunami in Japan, as well as the local devastation brought about by typhoons Quiel, Pedring, and Sendong.

A. Implementation of Housing Programs that Catered to the Needs of Other Sectors

The Aquino administration is bent on providing housing for government employees and other groups. With this, the President provided P4.2 billion to NHA for the Armed Forces of the Philippines/philippine National Police Housing Program. Several sites were identified under this program including Bocaue, San Jose del Monte and Norzagaray in Bulacan, Baras and Rodriguez in Rizal, in Calamba, Laguna, and Trece Martires and Gen. Trias in Cavite. Around 15,150 housing units, out of the targeted 21,800, have already been built for the program.

On the other hand, PAG-IBIG Fund revived its “rent-to-own program” to benefit public utility drivers and operators. PagIBIG and the Department of Education (Deped) also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a Home-matching and End-user Housing Loan program for public school teachers. These programs provide low monthly amortization payments, making them affordable to the targeted beneficiaries.

The Fund also intensified its campaign on the registration of employers and employees in accordance with its charter, RA 9679. The compulsory membership to PAG-IBIG Fund would ensure that all employees, regardless of rank and category, would be able to avail the benefits and privileges extended by the Fund.

Also, for the first time, Indigenous Peoples (IPS) were included in the housing program of the government. The NHA has approved the housing project for 350 Aeta families in Pampanga which is scheduled for construction in 2012.

B. Providing Relief to Calamity Victims

The shelter agencies have always been ready to offer assistance to its clients affected by both man-made and natural calamities. Upon the instruction of the Vice President and shelter agencies’

Boards of Directors/trustees, the PAG-IBIG Fund approved earlier in the year a special assistance program for OFW PAG-IBIG members affected by the conflict in the Middle East and North Africa as well as the victims of tsunami in Japan. The assistance from PAG-IBIG consisted of a 6-month moratorium on the affected OFWS’ existing loans. They were also given the option to withdraw or claim their contributions to the Fund prior to maturity. No penalties for non-payment of amortization were imposed during the moratorium period. A similar form of assistance was also extended by other shelter agencies to clients residing in areas hit by typhoons Pedring, Quiel and Sendong.

In addition, PAG-IBIG Fund extended calamity loans worth P6.1 billion to about 312,300 PAG-IBIG members and facilitated the insurance claims of the affected members to help them recover.

C. Affordable Housing through the Annual Housing Fair

The Housing Fair is an annual housing activity held every October in celebration of the National Shelter Month. This year’s Housing Fair, the sixth so far, was held from September 30 to October 2 with the theme “Gaganda ang Buhay sa Sariling

Bahay”. A joint project of the HUDCC, Key Shelter Agencies (KSAS) and Government Financial Institutions (GFIS) in partnership with the private sector, the fair served as a one-stop hub for people who are looking to buy houses.

For 2011, the KSAS and GFIS offered for sale more than 21,000 house and lot units at greatly reduced prices. As much as 30 percent discounts were given to those who bought properties during the threeday event. The acquired units for sale were vacant and ready for homeowners who want to move in immediately, unlike in previous housing fairs where buyers had to wait for former owners to vacate the units.

Meanwhile, those who preferred brand new housing units could choose from the new inventory offered by HUDCC’S partners from the private sector including the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association (CREBA), National Real Estate Association, Inc. (NREA), Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines, Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA).

The housing fair also highlighted the use of “green technology” in housing construction, which is being pushed by the Vice President. Through the cooperation of the Philippine Institute of Architects, the Socialized Condominium Design Competition was launched at the opening ceremony of the three-day fair to encourage architecture students to design a mediumrise building that utilizes environmentfriendly materials.

For the three-day fair, the KSAS and GFIS disposed a total of 298 units valued at P96.847 million.