An official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) has confirmed that the agency is looking into a possible partnership with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) to help exiting household beneficiaries to access affordable housing options.
During the July 2 episode of the DSWD’s online program, “4Ps Fastbreak,” Director Gemma Gabuya, the 4Ps National Program Manager (NPM), said exploratory talks are ongoing with the DHSUD to help the beneficiaries own affordably-priced homes with lower monthly amortizations.
“[Nasa] exploratory [talks pa] kung paano makaka-avail yung ating mga 4Ps beneficiaries dun nga sa programa ng Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) [ng DHSUD]. Kasi sabi ko nga kailangan din ihahanda natin ang ating mga beneficiaries bago man sila mag-exit o mag-graduate sa program na magkaroon ng sariling bahay,” Director Gabuya explained.
The 4Ps NPM said part of the agreement during the exploratory meeting was to draft a memorandum of agreement (MOA) and a data-sharing agreement (DSA) with the DHSUD to help determine the list of 4Ps beneficiaries that have the capacity to pay for affordable housing units.
“Pag may DSA na at ma-share natin yung data natin kung sino talaga ang ating mga priority na bigyan ng pabahay magkakaroon na tayo ng memorandum of agreement [with DHSUD] kung paano na ma-aavail ng mga ating beneficiaries [ang pabahay],” Director Gabuya pointed out.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian had an initial meeting with DHSUD officials led by Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling last June 19. Officials of the two agencies discussed possible housing projects that can be accessed by exiting 4Ps households.
Secretary Gatchalian said in the June 19 meeting that housing assistance for 4Ps beneficiaries is a necessity to help with their smoother and more dignified transition towards self-sufficiency.
Launched in 2008 and institutionalized by Republic Act (RA) 11310 in 2019, the 4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfer to poor households for a maximum period of seven years to improve their children’s health, nutrition, and education.
The ‘4Ps Fastbreak’ is hosted by Information Officer Venus Balito of the Strategic Communications’ Digital Media Service (DMS) and is aired every Wednesday at 11 am, using the DSWD’s Facebook platform. (AKDL)