Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling on Friday (August 8) seal a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to make affordable housing projects more accessible to eligible Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries.
The partnership will make it easier to match beneficiaries with housing options best suited to their capacities under the DHSUD,s expanded Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH), ensuring that qualified families can secure safe and decent shelter as part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s push for pro-poor housing programs.
Joining the DSWD chief in the MOA signing at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City were Asst. Secretaries Marites Maristela and Elaine Fallarcuna of the Conditional Cash Transfer Group (CCTG) and Director Gemma Gabuya of the 4Ps – National Program Management Office (NPMO).
DHSUD Undersecretaries Henry Yap, Lyle Pasco, Marisol Anenias; Director Don Dieta; and Asst. Director Mary Ann Policarpio were also present at the partnership signing. (LSJ)
DSWD, DHSUD ink deal for affordable housing options to eligible 4Ps members under 4PH
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) entered into a partnership on Friday (August 8) to strengthen convergence in making housing opportunities easier to reach by eligible beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries.
The memorandum of agreement (MOA) formalizing the partnership was signed by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City.
In his message, Secretary Gatchalian said this is a big move in enhancing the 4Ps to bring in the most holistic approach to the needs of the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized sectors of society.
“We all know that the basic need of a person does not end with money and with education. Shelter is part of the core needs of an individual, and we’re very happy kasi this is the first time, like I said, na nagkaroon ng word na pabahay and it appears in the same sentence as 4Ps,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
Under the signed MOA, the DSWD will be working closely with DHSUD to match eligible 4Ps beneficiaries with various housing options best suited to their economic capacities under the expanded Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) of the DHSUD.
Secretary Gatchalian pledged to make sure that the partnership is up and running in the immediate time possible, as it is very much-needed in providing dignified housing for 4Ps beneficiaries.
“Somebody told me once that the DSWD is not in the business of just providing assistance, medical assistance, burial assistance. We’re in the business of putting back hope. Hope in people’s lives. And without a real home, that hope remains elusive. So, ang mandate namin dito sa grupo ng 4Ps namin is to make sure that we get this MOA into action at the fastest,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out.
The DSWD chief said the agency plans to start identifying eligible beneficiaries from among the 1.4 million 4Ps households that have already reached ‘self-sufficiency,’
“Well, they are very good as prime targets kasi ito yung mga beneficiaries natin na ito, nag-self-sufficiency level na sila. They graduated out of the program and now we are doing the after care for them, and what better aftercare there is than to match them with the right housing option for them?” Secretary Gatchalian explained.
DHSUD Secretary Aliling, in his message, said the convergence of the DSWD and DHSUD is a major move in realizing the vision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. who has constantly urged to make the 4PH program more ‘pro-poor.’
“Kung dati po, vertical housing lang ang kasama sa 4PH, ngayon po, na-expand natin ito kasama na po yung house and lot, pwedeng lote lamang, pwedeng CMP (Community Mortgage Program) pwedeng rental. So, ang ibig sabihin nito yung mga intended na beneficiaries sa 4Ps kung ano yung capacity nila, meron po tayong available na housing modality program,” Secretary Aliling said.
The 4PH is the flagship housing program of the Philippine government focused on providing affordable housing options for the bottom low-income and working class segments. (LSJ)
