DAR to provide housing for farmer-beneficiaries

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) signed an agreement to provide affordable housing for farmers of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

DAR Secretary John R. Castriciones and DHSUD Secretary Eduardo del Rosario led the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA). The MOA seeks to pursue a meaningful agrarian reform program by uplifting the lives and economic status of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and their families.

Castriciones said the joint program between DAR and DHSUD called BALAI Farmers and Farmworkers’ Housing Program is one of the major programs of DAR that would improve the living condition of farmer-beneficiaries in the country.

“Most of our farmers and farm-workers are poor and does not own the house they live in. And even if they own it, most of their houses are dilapidated and needs repair. Why? Because the farmers would rather use their money for farming and family expenses than use it for house repairs,” said Castriciones.

“This housing program is our comprehensive solution to achieve inclusive growth by uplifting the quality of lives of CARP beneficiaries and their families through the livelihood and educational support that we will provide,” Castriciones said.

Under the agreement, the DHSUD shall develop and adopt a national strategy to immediately address the provision of adequate and affordable housing to farmers.

Undersecretary for Support Services Emily Padilla said the housing program will be a product compilation of existing programs and projects of relevant government and private sector agencies.

“A multi-sectoral approach will be adopted in the implementation of the housing program by converging resources of government and private sector agencies to address the different dimensions of housing, which is not only relating to physical structure, but also access to livelihood opportunities, health, as well as education of children of ARBs,” Padilla said.

The agreement also stipulates that DAR and DHSUD will form project teams to coordinate and implement the housing program in the pilot areas, namely Bayombong, Nueva Ecija; San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija; Tuy, Batnagas; Daet, Camarines Norte; Argao, Cebu and Davao City.
“After the successful implementation of this housing program in the pilot areas, concerted efforts by DAR and DHSUD to cascade the program down to the provinces and municipalities,” Padilla explained.

Farmers’ housing plans

According to Padilla the program will be implemented in two schemes, on-site and off-site housing.

Padilla said the on-site housing scheme will cover home improvements of existing houses of ARBs, construction or purchase of a new house for ARBs, and refinancing of an existing housing loan secured by the ARB.

“The farmers’ housing loans will be secured by emancipation patent, certificate of land ownership award, and other titles issued to them. Housing loans for house construction or improvement in lands covered by CLOA will be treated as additional loans by Land Bank of the Philippines and other lending institutions,” Padila said.

The off-site housing scheme covers subdivision projects located in the capital or in major urban centers of the province. “Such projects may be chosen by farmers to provide housing for their families, children or relatives so they can be near to schools, medical facilities and market centers for their agri-products,” Padilla explained.

She added that subdivision plans and designs will be in such a way that production facilities such as rice and sugar mills, dryers, and warehouses are integrated with places designated for open space such as basketball courts and multi-purpose centers.

The housing units are the duplex type with two bedrooms each, covering 37 square meters.

Padilla said that the housing development will be supplied by subdivision developers and housing contractors.

“The provision of housing is demand-driven and payment will be based on the farmers’ capacity to pay. The maximum term of housing loan will be at 30 years and amortization payment scheme will be based on cropping or harvest schedule of farmers,” Padilla further explained.

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