The key officials from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), together with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and other government agencies, convened for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony at the Apple Tree, Resort, Opol, Misamis Oriental for the implementation of BALAI Housing Program for the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) / Farmers of the Province of Lanao del Norte.
Lanao del Norte is the 2nd province nationwide and the 1st in Region X who will receive this project in which the Municipalities of Kolambugan and Magsaysay are the pilot LGUs set to benefit from the MOUs signed.
Accordingly, there will be more or less 180 units that will be constructed in the Municipality of Magsaysay and 200 houses at Kolambugan. The land used for this program is owned and given by the respective LGUs, where it covers 2.5-hectare in Magsaysay and roughly 3-hectare of land in Kolambugan.
The ceremony became more meaningful for it was personally lead by Secretary John R. Castriciones of DAR accompanied by the Regional Director of DAR-X, Director Zoraida O. Macadindang. Present also during the program were Mayor Haron D. Omar Sr. Al-hadj of Magsaysay and Mayor Lorenzo Mañigos of Kolambugan.
“It is a milestone activity that we have organized for the economic lives of our farmers. We need to uplift their lives in such a way that we can attend to more of their needs, and one of their needs is the housing program… “said DAR Secretary Castriciones.
The BALAI ARBs/FARMERS HOUSING PROGRAM is anchored to the concept of “Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable and Inclusive Filipino Communities” of President Duterte’s administration. The recipients of the program are the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) and other farmers classified by the LGUs and DAR. It aims to provide them a fully furnished and affordable house with complete amenities, including water and power supplies. The target beneficiaries will have a minimal monthly amortization for the said housing program payable in 30 years.
To extend further help to the beneficiaries, with the support of the Department of Agriculture and other national line agencies, DAR will also provide them livelihood programs just like gardening so that they have an extra source to pay for their monthly amortization.
In his message, the DAR Project Engineer Roberto Gavina deliberately shared the importance of the project for the farmers and the community. Though it is not part of the mandate of DAR to provide houses for the farmers, in collaboration with DHSUD and other valued agencies, it is shaped to enlivens the spirit and morale of our farmers with their lands for more productive and sustainable agriculture.
With this undertaking, Arch. Raymond Matic, the DAR-Project Architect, reminded everyone to take good care of everything that DAR and the government have provided, from training to equipment, for they will be the ones who will benefit from it.
Through an audio message, Congressman Abdullah D. Dimaporo of the 2nd District extends his genuine gratitude to DAR through Secretary Castriciones for including Lanao del Norte as a pilot province for this project.
On the other hand, Governor Angging also expressed her heartfelt appreciation to President Duterte through the DAR program under Secretary Castriciones, in providing this very timely and significant program as support for the farmers of the province.
“With the help of Local Chief Executives of Magsaysay and Kolambugan, we assure that the guidelines for this program will be followed, and this will be given to those qualified farmers in our province,” Governor Angging added.
Through the BALAI Housing program and with the help of the national and local government agencies, the needs of our local farmers will now be given extra importance and priority, particularly in fulfilling their dreams of having a conducive house that they can use with their families. PIO-LDN