MATI CITY, Davao Oriental — The Office of the President and the government’s Kilusang Pagbabago (KP) movement rolled out on Sunday a housing and livelihood program for 300 beneficiaries in the remote village of Danao in this city.
Led by the Office of the Participatory Governance, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), and the Davao Oriental chapter of the KP, the government held a site inspection and orientation for the families living in danger zones in the village.
PCOO Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy said the agencies are bringing the pro-poor program to the direct beneficiaries.
She said the PCOO helps drum up the program aimed at cutting down the number of poor families that now stands at six million.
“We have the mandate of bringing down the programs of President Rodrigo Duterte to the grassroots,” Badoy said.
Saying the government is on track, she added: “The President is serious in bringing down the poverty incidence from 21 to 14 percent.”
The housing and livelihood project, which is part of the Biyaya ng Pagbabago, has provided shelter solutions to over 300,000 informal settlers, including families in danger zones across the country, as of June 2018.
The government, through the SHFC, has also shelled out a total of PHP18.55 billion in loans, of which PHP13.78 billion was released through the Community Mortgage Program (CMP).
SHFC president Arnolfo Cabling said there is still an unused fund of PHP200 million for 2018 for the housing project in Mindanao.
Cabling said the portion of the amount will be used for the project in Mati, although it would take a long process because the beneficiaries will still form their respective homeowners’ associations.
The proposed site for the housing project in Danao is about 33 hectares. The beneficiaries will construct the houses through the bayanihan system.
One of those who traveled through rough roads to Danao village was Elizabeth Solis.
Solis, a resident of Barangay Sainz in Mati, did not mind going to Danao to seek help from the Office of the President.
She leads the Sto. Niño Neighborhood of Barrio Sainz and Mati Central, whose members occupy the land owned by the Lopez political clan.
While the families were not asked to be ejected, Solis said the Lopezes are willing to sell the property to them at PHP3,000 per square meter.
“Naningkamot ko ug anhi diri basig matabangan mi (I tried to come here. Maybe, we will be assisted),” Solis said.
SHFC readily took the case of Solis’ group and vowed to help them acquire the property.
Meanwhile, 38-year old Lyni Alajas was also hopeful she will qualify for the housing project.
Alajas said the program is good for the poor, who cannot afford to acquire a house and lot. She also wanted to avail of the livelihood program to help her husband, who tends a vegetable farm.
“Biyaya” is part of the vision of the Duterte administration for greater people participation in governance and for economic inclusivity.
Biyaya ng Pagbabago is spearheaded by the Office of Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, who heads 12 agencies, including the Philippine Coconut Authority and the National Housing Authority.
The Biyaya ng Pagbabago partners with KP in delivering the government programs.
KP is a mass convergence of people and organizations from the grassroots, indigenous people, and the urban poor.
KP is more known as a support group of Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs, criminality, corruption, and poverty. (Lilian Mellejor/PNA)
