Article by:
Ma. Teresa Montemayor
MANILA – The Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC) marked its 22nd anniversary with expanded programs and an estimated 17,000 housing units ready for delivery under the government’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.
SHFC President and CEO Federico Laxa said Thursday that the agency was created in 2004 as an attached agency of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and has strengthened its flagship Community Mortgage Program (CMP), which has been in place for 37 years.
Under the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program (ECMP), beneficiaries are no longer assisted solely in acquiring land they have occupied for years.
"Kung hindi kailangan, ayusin din natin iyong kanilang mga kalsada, mga kanal, drainage system, mga power, water utilities, kung wala ‘no (We also need to develop the road networks, drainage systems, and water and power utilities, if there are none)," he said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview.
He said the SHFC has approved interventions to address flooding and the absence of basic infrastructure after land acquisition at the Miranda Compound in San Fernando, Pampanga. The move aimed to transform the community into a safer and more livable settlement.
During the recent DHSUD anniversary led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Laxa said the SHFC’s role in the expanded 4PH was recognized, citing the agency’s active participation in delivering housing across modalities.
Projects, including the 17,000 available units, are located nationwide. In Davao City, the People’s Ville project has 1,400 completed units, targeted to reach 3,000. In San Fernando, Pampanga, the Crystal Peak project has four 12-storey buildings benefiting nearly 1,000 families.
Developments are also underway in Palawan and Misamis Oriental, while five buildings are rising in Port Town near the Philippine Ports Authority area in Manila, and three more in Quezon City.
The SHFC is also implementing High Density Housing (HDH) projects for families living in danger zones, such as riverbanks and resettlement initiatives for those affected by major infrastructure projects, including rail developments, in partnership with the Department of Transportation.
To ensure inclusivity, Laxa said, the SHFC will launch a nationwide information campaign and conduct open houses to guide prospective beneficiaries on pre-qualification requirements and application procedures.
“Hindi lang ito pabahay. Layunin nating gawing transformative ang mga komunidad (This is not just housing. We aim to make communities transformative),” he said.
He noted that inspections are regularly conducted to ensure projects respond to on-the-ground needs.
The SHFC will roll out a series of announcements and caravans to reach more aspiring homeowners, with up to 20,000 units expected to be completed and ready for turnover, he said. (PNA)
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