Binay urges local officials to lead in housing program

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay yesterday urged executives of local government units to be at the forefront in the housing program for their constituents.

Binay, who chairs the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), led the opening of the “Region 4-A Pabahay Caravan carrying the theme “Strengthening Local Government Units (LGUs) in Housing Delivery and Local Development Planning,” in Tagaytay City the other day.

This is the third in a series of activities in line with Binay’s thrust to build stronger partnership with LGUs. The last two caravans were held in Cebu and Baguio City.

“Being closer to the people, the LGUs should be at the forefront in delivering housing services,” Binay said. He cited that under Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, LGUs are mandated to deliver quality homes to their constituents.

“Our role in HUDCC is to enable them to provide these services by orienting them on our housing programs and training them to facilitate the implementation of such projects in their areas,” Binay said.

During the caravan, representatives from the National Housing Authority (NHA), the Social Housing Finance Corp., the National Housing Mortgage Fund Corp., the Housing and Land Use and Regulatory Board (HLURB), and the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) presented their agency’s respective housing programs and services.

Among the topics the representatives discussed include resettlement assistance, local community mortgage and housing programs.

“By making the LGUs aware of our housing programs and services, we will be able to encourage them to work together with the national government in accelerating shelter production and enhancing the delivery of housing services to the people,” Binay said.

Binay also awarded Transfer Certificate of Titles to housing beneficiaries of the Community Mortgage Program projects of the SHFC: the Andrea Paz Pabahay sa Barangay Barandal Homeowners, Inc., in Calamba, Laguna; Isla Verde Homeowners Association, Inc. in Imus Cavite; and AN-CRIS Homeowners Association, Inc. in Bacoor, Cavite.