Vice President Noli de Castro yesterday lauded private landowners who sell their properties at reasonable prices as the new heroes of the government’s socialized housing programs for the poor.
De Castro, also the chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), said that private landowners who sell their idle lands at reasonable prices are making the government’s housing programs easier to implement.
During a visit to two Gawad Kalinga housing projects in Amparo Village in Caloocan City last Friday, De Castro lauded Alejandra Romanes for selling her property to the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC) at a very affordable price under the Community Mortgage Program (CMP).
"Through her example of selling her land at
R1,300 per square meter, Romanes demonstrated how a properly implemented CMP can benefit several housing beneficiaries," De Castro said.
Properties in Amparo Village are valued at R2,500 per square meter, said property appraisers.
"Today, my praises go to Mrs. Romanes who is willing to help not only the government, but especially our poor and homeless countrymen. I know there are more people like Mrs. Romanes and my admiration also goes to them," De Castro said.
De Castro also urged other private landowners to follow Romanes’ lead and help the government’s housing programs by selling at affordable prices their idle lands.
"Ang pagtutulungan tulad ng ipinamalas ni Mrs. Romanes ang siyang magbibigay buhay muli sa pagasa ng ating mga mahihirap na kababayan na magkaroon ng sariling tahanan (Help shown by Mrs. Romanes gives hope to the poor to have their own homes)," De Castro said.
The CMP implemented by the NHMFC is one of the key housing projects of the government where informal settlers are urged to form a homeowners’ association to be able to seek the government’s help in the purchase of land and establishment of their own homes.
