By Glaiza Marie Cañedo
CNU Communication Intern

CEBU CITY (June 14, 2024) – Some low-income earners in the City could benefit from a socialized housing program which will be constructed in two barangays.

City Councilor Jerry Guardo. | 📷 CNU Communication Intern Glaiza Marie Cañedo

City Councilor Jerry Guardo said the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) has begun accepting applications for those who plan to avail of the national government’s Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4Ph) program.

Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin N. Garcia appointed Guardo as overseer for housing matters.

Guardo said under the program, the national government is set to construct a 12-storey medium-rise buildings that can accommodate at least 250 families each.

The DWUP identified Barangays Pulangbato and Binaliw as possible areas where the housing buildings will be constructed, he said.

Guardo said each building is designed with two elevators with each unit having 27 square meter of space.

Each housing unit is loanable up to 30 years, he added.

“The good thing about this program kay they really tie up with the local government units, so kita sa Cebu City Government through DWUP are task to identify unsay mga qualified nga mga individual from the different sectors, especially the low earners sector,” Guardo said during an episode of Kumusta Ka’Sugbo over Sugboanon Channel.

Low-income earners such as delivery drivers, habal-habal drivers, carpenters, welders, call center agents or even government employees can qualify to avail of the project, he added.

Orientation. Councilor Jerry Guardo (left, seated) sits beside lawyer Butch Librando and officials of the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) to talk to 4Ph beneficiaries in Barangay Pit-os. | 📷 DWUP Cebu City

Guardo explained that potential beneficiaries can avail of the housing program without the need for a down payment.

“Meaning, igo nalang gyud siya mopuyo wa pa siya nagsugod ug bayad sa iyang rental or monthly amortization,” he added.

He said the national government plans to construct at least 8 medium-rise buildings at Pulangbato and at least 12 at Binaliw.

Construction period will estimate to run for about a year and 2 months, he added.

How to avail

Here are the steps on how to avail the housing program:

  • Visit the DWUP office
  • Fill up the application form
  • Once qualified, your application will be endorsed to the Home Mutual Fund (Pagibig)
  • Wait for Pagibig’s pre-qualification approval
  • Once qualified, beneficiaries can choose their desired site
  • Wait for the formal unit turnover

Guardo said he hopes to turn over the finished units to the beneficiaries next year.

“Paningkamotan nga next year aduna na’y ma-turnover nga unit,” he added.

More than a year ago, incumbent Mayor Mike Rama and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. witnessed the groundbreaking of the Cebu City South Coastal Urban Development Housing Project located in Barangay Basak San Nicolas.

At least 30,000 households, particularly those displaced by the city’s Gubat sa Baha campaign, are expected to benefit from the housing program. | RMN / gmc

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