DBM frees P1B for housing projects of squatter (informal settler) families

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P1,165,085,751 to the Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC) to fund housing projects for three groups of squatter families (informal settlers) residing along danger areas in Metro Manila. 

The funds will cover site development and building construction of projects proposed by the Ciudad de Strike Homeowners Association, Inc.-2 in Bacoor, the Sandigan ng Maralitang Pilipino (SMP) Homeowners Association, Inc. in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, and the Malinta Waterways Alliance Housing Cooperative (MWAHC) in Valenzuela City. The housing projects will benefit 3,104 beneficiaries under the High Density Housing (HDH) project of the SHFC.

Of the amount released, P544 million will go to the Ciudad de Strike project, P271 million to the SMP project, and P350 million to the MWAHC project. This is after their people’s proposals have met all the technical requirements under existing rules and have hurdled the review and approval process of SHFC’s Accreditation, Credit, and Executive Committees, according to the DBM.

The DBM said the funds were charged against the P50-billion program fund for lsquatter families approved by President Aquino in 2011 to clear the flood-prone waterway easements of squatters and provide relocation to safer grounds for affected families. Under the program, squatter groups may submit their proposals for resettlement.

The proposals call for the construction of low-rise to medium-rise housing projects in sites identified by the squatter groups through the financing of SHFC. The beneficiaries will amortize the units or avail of a rent-to-own scheme.

The three squatter-family groups were organized into community associations in order to participate in the program and submit a proposal for their resettlement and shelter needs. Working as an association, they were able to identify and vet the beneficiaries of the project, as well as undertake community profiling survey, loan documentation, payment of taxes and permits, and project planning and management. The associations will also be responsible for estate management, which includes collection of payments, maintenance of building, and enforcement of community rules.