Baguio, NHA sign accord on socialized housing project
March 31, 2021 – The local government and the National Housing Authority (NHA) entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the proper utilization of the P50 million that will be provided by the agency to fund the initial land development of the city’s Luna Terraces socialized housing project that will be established in a city-owned property in barangay Irisan.
The agreement was signed by Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong and NHA-Region and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Acting Regional Manager Engr. Maria Belinda V. Sevalla during the regular executive-legislative meeting held at the city hall multipurpose hall last Monday.
Under the said agreement, the socialized housing project shall be undertaken by contract to be awarded pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and its implementing rules and regulations as amended.
The city’s Luna Terraces socialized housing project is primarily intended to provide housing assistance to families residing in danger areas, those affected by the infrastructure projects of the city, those with court orders for eviction and other urban poor families who qualify for relocation and resettlement assistance under the pertinent provisions of the law. Should the number of lots to be generated be inadequate to service current requirements, prioritization of awards shall be mutually agreed by both parties.
The agreement stated that security of tenure shall be granted to the socialized housing beneficiaries through a usufruct agreement or through a conditional contract to sell or any mode of conveyances as may be approved by the city council.
Moreover, all policies pertinent to the project, to include the disposition of lots, cost recovery and estate management, shall be promulgated by the city council.
The city shall provide the city-owned parcel of land in barangay Irisan as the local government’s contribution to the NHA’s resettlement program and that it shall secure, comply and submit to NHA all the legal and technical data and the required documents showing its readiness to undertake the required project development.
On the other hand, the NHA shall assist the city in the preparation of land development and housing plans; if local government administered, release the prescribed amount in 2 tranches as its contribution for the land property pursuant to its approved work program and corporate operating budget for this year; provide technical assistance to the city in the preparation of project plans, including technical specifications, cost estimates and implementation schedules; evaluate, review and approve the development plans and technical specifications including the final cost estimates for the proposed land development or housing construction works among others.
The agreement stipulated that it is the declared policy of the State to provide the people with adequate and decent housing facilities and encourage various stakeholders to participate in the housing program of the government.
Executive Order No. 90, series of 1986 mandated the NHA as the sole production agency to meet the housing needs of the low and marginalized families while RA 7160 and RA 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act mandated local government units to take a principal role in the provision of housing services to their constituents. Dexter A. See
