DILIMAN, Quezon City-- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), and 19 local government units (LGUs) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that will provide decent and affordable housing to farmers.

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

The 19 sites where the farmers’ houses will be constructed are located in the following: Llanera, Nueva Ecija; Narvacan, Ilocos Sur; Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte; Umingan, Pangasinan; Alaminos City, Pangasinan; Bani, Pangasinan; Bauang, La Union; Ilagan, Isabela; Quezon, Isabela; Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; Punukulan, Quezon; Mauban, Quezon; Libmanan, Camarines Sur; Canaman, Camarines Sur; Guinobatan, Albay; Mina, Iloilo; Matanao, Davao, and Caoayan, Ilocos Sur.

Brother John 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 need repair. Why? Because the farmers would rather use their money for farming and family expenses than use it for house repairs,” said Brother John.

According to Secretary Del Rosario, BALAI, which stands for Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable, and Inclusive housing, are the foundation on which the housing project is anchored.

“When Secretary Castriciones first told me about this project, I immediately said ‘approved without thinking’ because I believe it is doable, supportable, and achievable,” he said.

DAR Undersecretary for Support and Services Emily Padilla said 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 the 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.

“The provision of housing is demand-driven, and payment will be based on the farmers’ capacity to pay, where 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.

The multi-sectoral undertaking, which will be implemented through the convergence of various government agencies such as DHSUD, DAR, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Social Welfare and Development will also provide other livelihood opportunities for farmers and their families.

DILIMAN, Quezon City—Lumagda ang Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), at 19 na mga local government unit (LGUs) ng isang memorandum of agreement (MOA) upang magkaloob ng disente at abot-kayang pabahay sa mga magsasaka.

Pinangunahan ni DAR Secretary Brother John Castriciones at DHSUD Secretary Eduardo del Rosario ang paglagda sa isang memorandum of agreement (MOA) na layuning ipagpatuloy ang isang makabuluhang programa ng repormang agraryo sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaloob ng pabahay upang maiangat ang kalidad ng buhay at katayuan sa ekonomiya ng mga agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) at ang kanilang mga pamilya.

Ang 19 na lugar na tatayuan ng mga bahay ng mga magsasaka ay ang mga sumusunod: Llanera, Nueva Ecija; Narvacan, Ilocos Sur; Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte; Umingan, Pangasinan; Alaminos City, Pangasinan; Bani, Pangasinan; Bauang, La Union; Ilagan, Isabela; Quezon, Isabela; Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; Punukulan, Quezon; Mauban, Quezon; Libmanan, Camarines Sur; Canaman, Camarines Sur; Guinobatan, Albay; Mina, Iloilo; Matanao, Davao, and Caoayan, Ilocos Sur.

Sinabi ni Brother John na ang programa ng DAR at DHSUD na tinawag na BALAI Farmers and Farmworkers ’Housing Program ay isa sa pangunahing programa ng DAR na layong mapabuti ang kalagayan ng pamumuhay ng mga magsasaka sa bansa.

"Karamihan sa ating mga magsasaka ay mahirap at hindi nagmamay-ari ng bahay na tinitirhan nila. At kahit na pag-aari nila ito, karamihan sa kanilang mga bahay ay sira-sira at kailangan ng pagkumpuni. Bakit? Dahil mas gugustuhin ng mga magsasaka na gamitin ang kanilang pera para sa pagsasaka at gastos sa pamilya kaysa gamitin ito para sa pag-aayos ng bahay," sabi ni Brother John.

Ayon kay Secretary Del Rosario, ang BALAI, na ang ibig sabihin ay Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable, and Inclusive housing program, ay ang pundasyon kung saan nakaangkla ang proyektong pabahay.

“Nang unang sinabi sa akin ni Secretary Castriciones ang tungkol sa proyektong ito, sinabi ko kaagad na 'aprubado na ng hindi na iniisip' sapagkat naniniwala akong ito ay magagawa, masusuportahan, at makakamit," aniya.

Sinabi ni DAR Undersecretary for Support and Services Emily Padilla na ang programa ay ipapatupad sa dalawang mga paraan, on-site at off-site na pabahay.

Sinabi ni Padilla na ang on-site na paraan sa pabahay ay ang pagkukumpuni ng kasalukuyang tinitirhang bahay ng mga magsasaka, konstruksyon, o pagbili ng bagong bahay para sa mga ARB, at muling pagkakaloob ng bagong pautang na pabahay sa mga ARB.

"Ang mga pautang sa pabahay ng mga magsasaka ay masisiguro sa pamamagitan ng emancipation patent, certificates of landownership award, at iba pang mga titulo na ibinigay sa kanila. Ang mga pautang sa pabahay para sa pagtatayo ng bahay o pagpapabuti sa mga lupain na sakop ng CLOA ay ituturing bilang karagdagang pautang ng Land Bank of the Philippines at iba pang mga institusyong pautangan,” ani Padilla.

Saklaw naman ng off-site housing ang mga proyekto sa subdivision na matatagpuan sa kabisera o sa pangunahing mga sentro ng lungsod ng lalawigan. "Ang mga nasabing proyekto ay maaaring piliin ng mga magsasaka upang kanilang maging tirahan para sa kanilang pamilya, anak o kamag-anak upang malapit sila sa mga paaralan, ospital at mga pamilihan para sa kanilang mga agri-products," paliwanag ni Padilla.

Ang mga yunit ng bahay ay duplex na may dalawang silid tulugan bawat isa, at may lawak na 37 metro kuwadrado.

"Ang pagkakaloob ng pabahay ay ibabatay sa kakayahan ng mga magsasaka na magbayad, kung saan ang pinakamatagal na termino ng pautang sa pabahay ay nasa 30 taon at ang pagbabayad sa amortisasyon ay ibabatay sa cropping o panahon ng pag-aani ng mga magsasaka,” paliwanag pa ni Padilla.

Ang multi-sektoral na gawain, na ipapatupad sa pamamagitan ng pagtitipon ng iba't ibang ahensya ng gobyerno tulad ng DHSUD, DAR, Department of Trade and Industry at ang Department of Social Welfare and Development, ay magbibigay din ng mga proyektong pangkabuhayan para sa mga magsasaka at kanilang pamilya.