Livelihood key to housing program’s success – DHSUD

MANILA, Philippines — A stable employment and sustainable livelihood for the beneficiaries of the Marcos administration’s Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) are crucial to the success and sustainability of the program, according to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

“The Pambansang Pabahay will be more sustainable if there is stable livelihood or employment for the beneficiaries. It is crucial for them to have sources of income,” DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said in a statement.

Acuzar, after signing a memorandum of agreement with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on Oct. 27 for the skills training of the beneficiaries, said 4PH is not just about providing housing units, especially to the impoverished, but also about giving them the capacity to sustain it.

Once the beneficiaries are equipped with relevant skills, he added, they could establish livelihood or find stable jobs within the vicinities of government housing projects.

Acuzar pointed out that the approach is in line with President Marcos’ concept of “sustainable human settlements and township development” wherein beneficiaries will be provided not just housing units, but also access to livelihood and employment.

According to Acuzar, the agreement between DHSUD and TESDA “is expected to fill in the gaps in existing industries in areas where the beneficiaries of housing projects are located.”

With it, the DHSUD would gather data on the preferred skills of the beneficiaries and provide TESDA the list of participants for the training. Apart from the skills and livelihood trainings, TESDA would also provide other forms of technical assistance as necessary.

“We will make sure that the skills training that will be provided to the beneficiaries matches with the in-demand industries near the housing areas where they will live, so that they can easily find jobs,” Acuzar said in Filipino. “I believe that once given the right training and opportunity, they can stand on their own and improve their lives.”