By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Acting upon President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s instructions to immediately mobilize assistance and relief efforts from concerned agencies after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck parts of Mindanao on Monday, the DHSUD ordered the implementation of a moratorium on housing amortization payments.
This complements the activation of the agency’s regional shelter clusters, which comes as a timely response to the effects of the tremor on qualified affected households.
As of press time, 33,596 families or 149,372 individuals are reported to be displaced by the major quake, after 2,994 houses sustained varying amounts of damage.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development’s (DHSUD) key shelter agencies likewise deployed their teams and activated their respective response measures for the quake victims.
Two Pag-IBIG on Wheels Mobile Branch were sent to General Santos City and Dipolog City to assist affected members, while National Housing Authority (NHA) teams were dispatched to conduct ground assessment for the processing of emergency shelter assistance.
Pag-IBIG Fund further advised housing loan borrowers in affected areas that they may avail themselves of insurance benefits under the Pag-IBIG Housing Loan Non-Life Insurance Claim attached to their loans. Eligible members whose homes sustained earthquake-related damage may file insurance claims to help cover repair and rehabilitation costs.
Qualified borrowers affected by the earthquake also benefit from the temporary deferment of monthly amortization payments without penalties, surcharges, or interest, as the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC) extended its housing loan moratorium program until October 2026.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said in a statement, “Alinsunod sa utos ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na agarang maghatid ng tulong sa ating mga kababayang naapektuhan ng lindol, inatasan natin ang ating mga key shelter agencies na simulan ang pagpapatupad ng moratorium sa housing amortization para sa mga kalipikadong benepisyaryo.”
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