The Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD) has lauded the local government unit of Bacolod City for initiating a housing program through a joint venture agreement with a private consortium for its informal settlers and those under the low income bracket constituents.

The move, according to DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, made Bacolod City as the first LGU to seal a joint venture agreement (JVA) for a public-private partnership (PPP) for the implementation of housing projects.

“The Bacolod City’s constant enthusiasm to bring the agreements we signed into action on the ground should serve as an inspiration, worthy of emulation among local government units, and the program implementers in general,” said Acuzar.

“We should see through the initiatives that we engage in until they become concrete outcomes our kababayans can benefit from and enjoy,” he added.

The JVA-PPP is expected to strengthen the partnership among key players and pool the requirements for the fruition of the housing project.

Under the JVA, the city government shall provide the land for settlements where the housing units shall be built.

Meanwhile, DHSUD is expected to offer interest subsidies to ISFs who are qualified to take-out housing loans from Pag-IBIG Fund.

The private consortium commits to build human settlements/housing units for the ISFs in Bacolod City, in two sets of 10,000 units each.

The constitution of the buildings shall be undertaken by the private proponent at no cost to the City of Bacolod and DHSUD.

Acuzar said Bacolod City was also among the first local LGUs which embraced the concepts of “Pambansang Pabahay’ after signing a memorandum of understanding with the DHSUD immediately after the program was launched in September last year.

Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Benitez has already submitted to the Sangguniang Panlungsod the JVA between the LGU and a private consortium that would pave the way for the start of ground works for the Asenso Yuhum Housing Project in Barangay Vista Alegre where groundbreaking were also held September last year.