THE OFW party-list and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement for the inclusion of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in government’s national housing program.
The MOA for the Pambansang Pabahay Program for OFWs was signed by OFW party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino and Human Settlements Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar at the party-list’s OFW Tulong at Serbisyo Center in Parañaque City.
Magsino said the group reached out to Acuzar to include OFWs as beneficiaries of the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) program since “one of the dreams of an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) is to be able to save up by toiling abroad for a house they can call their own.”
The neophyte lawmaker thanked President Marcos, Acuzar and the whole DHSUD “for their prompt action on our request to help OFWs achieve their dreams of becoming homeowners.”
“Sa kabila ng kanilang sakripisyo para sa pamilya at malaking kontribusyon sa ating ekonomiya, panahon na talagang magkaroon ang ating mga OFWs, lalo na ang mga nasa elementary occupations, na magkaroon ng disenteng tahanang kanilang maipupundar para sa pamilya sa halagang hindi magiging pabigat sa kanila (Despite their huge sacrifices for their families and their economic contributions, it’s about time that OFWs, especially those in elementary occupations, to have decent homes for their families without being too costly),” Magsino said.
Magsino said she considers the Pambansang Pabahay Program for OFWs with the DHSUD “a major accomplishment in my first term as representative of the OFW party-list.”
The MOA provides for the allocation of units in the DHSUD’s housing projects to OFWs, returnees, and family members.
Under the agreement, the DHSUD will provide the details of its housing projects in the pipeline, which the OFW party list can match with OFWs who have signified their intention to be prospective beneficiaries.
DHSUD will then manage the assessment and pre-qualification of the validated and endorsed beneficiaries of the project.
DHSUD’s 4PH program aims to service the country’s housing needs, currently estimated at six and a half million, by targeting to construct one million housing units per year for the next six years.
Presently, DHSUD has signed agreements with 123 local government units for housing projects all over the country. It has 364 ongoing projects, 10 of which are ongoing constructions in Bacolod City, Marikina City, Quezon City, Tanauan City, Palayan City, Binan City, Zamboanga City, Ilagan City, Roxas province, and Norther Samar province.
