A total of 100 housing units situated in Brgy. Semba, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte is ready for occupancy as part of the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development’s (MHSD) Housing Loan Program. (Photo courtesy of MHSD)
COTABATO CITY—Bangsamoro Government is set to launch its Housing Loan Program in the fourth quarter of 2023, aiming to offer affordable housing units for Bangsamoro employees.
A total of 100 housing units, situated in Brgy. Semba, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, are ready for occupancy as part of the Housing Loan Program of the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development (MHSD).
The program aims to offer housing opportunities to Bangsamoro employees with modest incomes who are unable to establish their own homes.
In a September 22 interview with MHSD’s Director-General Esmael Ebrahim, he highlighted the financial significance of the housing loan program.
“Compared to renting a house in Cotabato City for P10,000 a month, it’s better to own a house that you pay for every month, and at the end of the day, it’s yours,” he stated.
Based on the Ministry’s previous coordination meeting with the Office of the Chief Minister (OCM), Ministry of Finance, Budget and Management (MFBM), and Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), the monthly payment is expected to be no more than P4,000 a month over a 15-year period.
The Director-General also shared the draft guidelines, outlining the qualifications for potential beneficiaries of the program.
As presented by Ebrahim, beneficiaries must be Filipino citizens under 55 years of age, permanent government employees, active members of the Pag-IBIG Fund with a gross monthly income not exceeding P27,000 (SG11), and must not own any real estate in urban or rural areas.
He added that discussions have been underway regarding whether the program will be made available to all employees of other BARMM Ministries, Offices, and Agencies (MOAs), emphasizing that the program will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
This initiative to invest in strategic infrastructure for economic growth aligns with the Enhanced 12-Point Priority Agenda of BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim. (Johamin Inok/BIO)
