The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is set to build two housing projects for local informal settler families (ISFs) in Laguna province, housing czar Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said Thursday.

“Based on statistics conducted in 2015, 81 percent of Filipino families would like to have a dream house of their own. ‘Yun po ang sector na ina-address ng DHSUD (That is the sector being addressed by the DHSUD),” del Rosario said in a statement.

The department and the local government units (LGUs) of Pila and Bay in Laguna have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to provide safe, resilient, and affordable housing projects for “informal settlers and (the) poorest of poor” residing in the province.

“The focus of our department is to address the concerns of the informal settler families and the poorest of the poor in our society. ‘Yan po ang mandato ng batas, sa (that is the mandate of the law, our mandate in the) Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development,” he told partner-developers.

Following the groundbreaking and signing ceremonies on Wednesday, del Rosario described the agreement as a “beacon of hope” for those who wish to have their own home at an affordable cost.

“Yung sector na walang kakayahan na magkaroon ng sariling bahay ay matugunan ang kanilang pangangailangan (To address the needs of the sector that could not afford to have their own house), we give them the capability, the opportunity to have decent and affordable housing units,” he said.

Under the Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable, and Inclusive Filipino Communities Program (BALAI) housing project, the government will closely collaborate with the LGUs and its private partner-developers to ensure the provision of decent and adequate homes to the Filipino people.

Some ISFs will benefit from the two housing projects, which would involve several private developers in the construction, among them ACM Landholding, Inc.; Cathay Land, Inc.; and Belle Corp.

Meanwhile, del Rosario pledged to continue promoting a vibrant housing sector under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Hangad ng DHSUD, katuwang ang mga LGU, na matulungan ang poorest of the poor, yung mga informal settlers na walang lupa, na ang mga bahay ay nakatayo sa danger zones, or yung lupa na pag-aari ng gobyerno o private sector (The DHSUD, in partnership with the LGUs, targets to assist the poorest of the poor, informal settlers who do not own land or those who have houses built on danger zones or properties owned by the government or private sector,” he said.

The housing department, alongside the LGUs of Pila and Bay, is also slated to finalize another agreement on the construction of common facilities, such as a public auditorium and sports complexes. (PNA)