The Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) and Water.org sealed a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing held at the SHFC head office in Makati City on Monday.
The MOU was signed by President and CEO Federico Laxa and Water.org Southeast Asia Regional Director Griselda Santos. The collaboration seeks to enhance access to clean water and sanitation for community associations and their member-beneficiaries, strengthening SHFC’s efforts to go beyond housing.
President Laxa underscored the significance of the partnership as part of the agency’s transformative approach to the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program (ECMP) under President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, being implemented by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development led by Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling.
“This partnership reflects our transformative approach to ECMP. We are revitalizing the program to go beyond its role as a financing tool for land acquisition for informal settler communities,” said Laxa, highlighting that among the innovations in the program is ensuring access to essential services such as clean water and sanitation facilities that are vital to building sustainable and livable communities.
To date, SHFC has approved 10 ECMP projects across the country, benefiting about 2,000 families. More projects are set for approval in the coming weeks, in line with the directive of Secretary Aliling to award the lots for the initial batch of ECMP projects by October this year.
For her part, Director Santos expressed Water.org’s commitment to SHFC’s mission. “We are one with you in envisioning a transformative, sustainable housing solution towards inclusive growth and development,” she said. “Integral to attaining sustainable housing is ensuring sustainable access to water supply, sanitation, and hygiene.”
The signing was witnessed by SHFC officials, including Executive Vice President Atty. Junefe Payot, Support Cluster Senior Vice President Atty. Leo Deocampo, Accounts Management Cluster Senior Vice President Josefina Banglagan, Corporate Planning and Communications Vice President Florencio Carandang, Jr, Resettlement Services Vice President Bob Flores, and Finance and Comptrollership Vice President Dante Anabe.
Representing Water.org were Portfolio Manager Arvin Longcop, Partnership Account Manager Rachele Bonus-Pestano, and Administrative Services Coordinator Myrna Penas
This partnership coincides with SHFC’s celebration of the 37th Anniversary of the Community Mortgage Program, themed “Kaagapay Ng Komunidad: Mula Noon, Hanggang Ngayon.”
