In a renewed push for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s mass housing program, around 5,000 residents from low-income communities are set to own land through 34 revived on-site housing projects across key areas in Luzon and Visayas.
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling approved a proposal on Wednesday to initially revive 34 on-site Community Mortgage Program (CMP) projects in various parts of the country.
“Alinsunod po ito sa utos ng Pangulong Marcos Jr. sa pagsusulong ng mga pro-poor at people-centered housing programs,” Aliling said in a statement.
“We need to prioritize high-impact and implementable CMP projects and assist our beneficiaries to transform their communities,” he added.
Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) President Federico Laxa had proposed reviving the 34 on-site CMP projects.
The initial 34 on-site CMP projects will benefit about 5,000 member-beneficiaries. Some of the priority sites are located in the cities of Pasig and Valenzuela in Metro Manila; Tanay, Rizal; City of San Fernando, Pampanga; in the provinces of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte; Roxas City and Iloilo City.
Laxa said the priority CMP projects are being prepared for the awarding of lots and may undergo further development in the future, noting that these projects have been in the pipeline for several years.
The plan could be extended to include incremental housing, allowing member-beneficiaries to afford housing improvements with the assistance of the government.
“We will be more transformative with our CMP projects now, with consideration to incorporating development in our sites,” Laxa said.
The DHSUD and SHFC are targeting the start of awarding the CMP sites to member-beneficiaries in October, according to the agencies.
Aliling said the revival of the CMP projects will boost the implementation of President Marcos’ Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.
During the 4PH’s initial implementation, all CMP projects were placed on hold as the program was focused on vertical housing.
The CMP is a people-led housing finance and community development program implemented by the SHFC, which helps legally organized associations of low-income groups acquire and develop a tract of land under the concept of community ownership.
Its primary objective is to assist residents of depressed areas in owning the lots they occupy, or where they choose to relocate to, and eventually create sustainable and resilient communities. | PND
