Government shelter agencies have expressed full support for the housing program for Informal Settler Families (ISFs) living in danger areas under the P50 billion housing fund approved by President Benigno S. Aquino III.

            With regard to news reports that proposals of the civil society organizations were not considered, National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Chito M. Cruz explained that the proposals were evaluated but additional documents to support them were not complied with by the proponents.

            “Some proposals were also not accommodated because the proposed sites for relocation were either on site, meaning along the danger areas, or were not offered for sale by private landowners,” Cruz added.

            Meanwhile, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Secretary General Cecilia S. Alba said three housing agencies – HUDCC, NHA and the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) – are part of the inter-agency Technical Working Group (TWG) created to oversee the ISF Housing Program.

            The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) serves as the head of the TWG and the lead agency for the said project.

            “The policy guidelines as well as the structure and mechanism for the ISF Housing Program’s implementation are provided in the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) formulated by the TWG,” Alba said.

            Alba explained that the JMC went through several revisions by the TWG to ensure that the positions of various stakeholders are considered.

            “The JMC is now being circulated to the member-agencies for signature. HUDCC received the JMC on June 14 and sent it to NHA for signature,” Alba added.

            Cruz explained that even prior to receiving the JMC, HUDCC, DILG, and the NHA had already agreed to come up with a supplemental memorandum circular clarifying the guidelines of the P20 billion already released, obligated, allocated or earmarked to NHA.

            “The original JMC covered the whole P50 billion fund. The supplemental MC is now being finalized and will form part of the implementing rules and regulations of the JMC,” Cruz said.

            “This was deemed necessary as the initial P20 billion allocated to NHA has already been utilized, obligated or earmarked for various resettlement projects for the intended beneficiaries,” he added.

            Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, who chairs HUDCC, said that to date, 4,842 units in off-city resettlement projects are ready for occupancy and 3,513 more will be made available within this year. Another 1,681 units in in-city low-rise buildings will be completed before the end of the year.