SOME 937 government workers in the City of San Fernando qualified for the housing project of the local government under the Community Mortgage Program (CMP) of the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC).
On December 4, through the Local Housing and Settlement Division (LHSD), the first batch, or 500 of the housing beneficiaries, had finally signed Lease Purchase Agreements with SHFC.
“Masaya tayo ngayong umaga dahil nagkatotoo na ang ipinangako ng ating alkalde na makapagbigay ng disente, mura, at magandang lokasyon para sa pabahay ng ating mga empleyado,” said Louie Clemente, LHSD chief.
Of the 937 beneficiaries, 70 percent are local government employees.
“Bahagi ito ng ipinangako ng ating alkalde na si Mayor Edwin Santiago sa mga empleyado dito sa pamahalaang lokal. Kaya naman, majority of the beneficiaries ay empleyado ng City Government pero dahil marami tayong housing units, yung sobra, binuksan natin sa iba pang nagta-trabaho sa gobyerno like national government and other attached agencies,” Clemente said.
The housing project of the LGU started on February 11, 2020, when Mayor Edwin Santiago signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SHFC to provide Flexible, Affordable, Inclusive, and Responsive (Fair) shelter to LGU employees.
In May 2020, SHFC began its background investigation and qualification process.
After the signing of lease purchase agreement, the beneficiaries will be entitled to lease a property with 42 square meters as official members of the Town Homes San Fernando Homeowners Association, Incorporated located in Barangay Panipuan.
The rental payment will commence two months after the take-out date and shall be paid every month thereafter. This will continue for a maximum period of 35 years.
The member shall receive the title and full ownership upon expiration of the lease term and/or full payment of all rentals due.
Prandy L. Guevarra, assigned OIC of SHFC Pampanga Area, also explained that part of the agreement is the mortgage redemption life insurance coverage of the member-beneficiary.
“Itong insurance na ito para ito sa lahat ng member-beneficiaries. Dahil once na may nangyaring hindi maganda o namatay yung member, automatic bayad na yung kanyang property,” Guevarra said.
Under the agreement, a member cannot sell, transfer or sub-lease his/her property without prior written consent from the Community Association and SHFC.
Violation of this provision will mean termination of the lease granted to the member. He/shall be also barred from availing any other socialized housing program of the government for 10 years from the date of violation.
Riza Patio, an LGU employee and one of the beneficiaries, thanked the City Government.
“Sobrang laking tulong po nitong pabahay ng city government lalong lalo na sa aming mga nangungupahan lamang. Nagpapasalamat po ako kay Mayor [Edwin Santiago], sa SHFC po at sa local housing natin,” she said.
LHSD and SHFC hope to turn over the housing units for the first batch and sign the lease-purchase agreement for the second batch in the first quarter of 2022. (PR)