To help realize each overseas Filipino worker’s (OFW) dream of having their own home, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the Pag-IBIG Fund.
During the signing ceremony held at the DMW office in Mandaluyong, Secretary Susan Ople said this will be under the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) flagship housing program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the department’s full-cycle national reintegration program for OFWs.
“To own a home in an affordable way, this is what this agreement offers to every OFW,” Ople said.
“Mahalaga na may nakalaan na mga pabahay units sa ating OFWs dahil ito ay pangarap nila at bilang pagkilala na din sa kanilang napakalaking ambag sa ating bansa (It is important that there are housing units that will be available for our OFWs because this is their dream, and this is also in recognition for their important contribution to the country),” she added.
DHSUD Secretary Rizalino Acuzar, in his speech, said the OFWs have contributed much to the economy and have been the lifeline of private housing developers in the country, narrating his experience coming from a private real estate company.
He also assured that the government’s housing projects are sustainable, affordable as compared to buying them from private companies, and accessible, as these are in-city projects, without sacrificing the quality of the units.
Acuzar said that housing projects are condominium units in the city measuring 25 to 27 square meters each and with amenities like the other private condominium projects.
As DHSUD is just starting with the government housing program, Acuzar said initial projects may be realized after two years.
“Within two years, magtatayuan yan. Makikita natin after two years, mag aaward na kami ng pabahay, yan yung nakikita nating program (they will be built. We will see these in two years, we will start awarding housing units, that is the projection of the program),” Acuzar said.
He added that he also asked the Central Bank as well as the Department of Finance to relax the documentation requirements to assure that even regular employees may avail of it.
“Humingi ako sa kanila ng isang agreement na kung pwede i-relax ang documentation at ang pinakamaganda dito walang down payment (I asked them for an agreement to make them relax the documentation, and what is good here is that we do not ask for down payment),” he added.
Meanwhile, Ople assured that even former OFWs may avail of the program as long as they can prove that they formerly worked outside the country, and as long as they are active Pag-IBIG members.
Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene Acosta said that the partnership agreement allows the Pag-IBIG Fund to conduct education and information campaigns among OFWs for membership into the fund and to encourage availment of the 4PH program for OFWs.
Pag-IBIG shall also conduct projects to promote financial literacy among OFWs that shall help build their appreciation for savings and capacity to manage investments.
Acosta said that currently, Pag-IBIG Fund has 1.6 million active OFW members. (PNA)
