The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) announced on Wednesday that more than 1,400 informal settler families (ISFs) will benefit from the newly built-government housing project in Bacoor, Cavite.

DHSUD Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said among the beneficiaries are families residing in danger zones and accident-prone areas in Bacoor City.

On Tuesday, del Rosario graced the inspection and ceremonial turnover of the new houses within “the Ciudad de Strike Phase I”, the government’s third low-rise housing project in Barangay Molino.

The housing project materialized via the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), under its Community Mortgage Program, in partnership with the local government of Bacoor.

“Masasabi po natin para po sa inyo ang pinakamaganda at pinakamahalagang Christmas gift na maibibigay ng Bacoor City LGU, na magkaroon kayo ng isang housing settlement na masasabi nating disente, affordable at sustainable (I can say that the greatest and valuable Christmas gift that Bacoor-LGU could give is to provide you a decent, affordable and sustainable housing settlement),” del Rosario said in his message during the event.

Del Rosario noted that the project is part of the government’s resettlement program, in direct coordination with the local government units, which provide subsidized housing rates for beneficiaries.

“Pinababa po namin nang husto ang interest rate dahil yan po ang utos ng ating mahal na Pangulo to ensure na tulungan ang ating mga kababayan (We drastically lowered the interest rate because that is the order of our President to ensure that we help our countrymen), 81 percent of Filipinos will have their own dream house,” he added.

The housing czar reiterated that part of the DHSUD’s primary principles is “housing is a right of every Filipino family, it is the Department’s responsibility to capacitate the underprivileged in having access to decent and affordable housing, as well as ensure that no sub-standard housing project is built under the Duterte administration.”

Del Rosario was joined by SHFC president Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling, Cavite 2nd Rep. Strike Revilla, Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla, other local officials, and recipients of the housing units, during the event.

The DSHUD and its key shelter agencies have been pushing decent, affordable, and sustainable housing projects for the Filipinos, including the newly turned over 374 houses for ISFs in cities of Quezon and Malabon, both in high-density housing structures. (PNA)