QUEZON CITY: The Philippine National Housing Authority (NHA) reiterates its mission to provide adequate and affordable housing to low-income and underprivileged Filipino families.
“The NHA under the Duterte Administration ensures the public that it will address the country’s housing needs as it will lead the construction and development of new communities and maximize government resources,” Philippine Information Agency (PIA) quoted NHA Acting General Manager Marcelino P. Escalada Jr. as saying.
NHA reportedly emphasized that its housing program only caters to the lowest 30 percent, the poorest of the urban population.
It is mandated to provide housing and related assistance to ISFs living along danger zones and areas affected by government infrastructure projects, the report said.
The National Government reportedly prioritizes housing programs within the six year Philippine Development Plan (PDP) which is the basis of NHA’s target each year.
Currently, the on-going housing projects of the Authority have identified family-beneficiaries who were qualified during the planning and pre-qualification process which will be the basis for their award, said the news portal.
Likewise, the NHA reportedly extends its service delivery to families affected by calamities, housing for indigenous peoples and local/regional housing and resettlement projects in coordination with the Local Government Units (LGUs) and congressional representatives.
Towards resolving the housing backlog, the programs for ISFs are made sustainable and cost recoverable in order to benefit more families, reported PIA.
Based on the UDHA, the eligibility criteria to avail government housing are the following: 1) must be a Filipino citizen; 2) must be an underprivileged and homeless citizen; 3) must not own any real property whether in the urban or rural areas, and; 4) must not be a professional squatter or a member of squatting syndicates, the report highlighted.
In a related development, the NHA in compliance with President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s statement on “No demolition without relocation”, shall continue to comply with the provisions of the Urban Development Housing Act (UDHA) of 1992 (RA7279), which provides for a humane relocation and resettlement strategy that includes pre-relocation, relocation and post relocation processes.
