Monday, August 18, 2008 [ manilatimes.net ]
THE National Anti-Poverty Commission on Sunday said government plans to invest more than P1.7 billion in housing services for the urban poor through one of its primary financial institutions.
Anti-poverty Secretary Domingo Panganiban said over the weekend that the Arroyo administration plans to expand public housing services for the urban poor up to 2010 through the Development of Poor Urban Communities Sector Project of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
“This DBP project was designed to improve living conditions in the communities of the urban poor by providing financial assistance to qualified institutions and urban poor communities for site development, home improvement, livelihood endeavors and shelter finance services for poor urban households,” Panganiban said.
He also said that the DBP is among the most reliable allies of the Arroyo administration’s anti-poverty and social reform programs.
DBP Program Manager Leopoldo Resmundo Jr. said the bank strengthening its partnership with local governments and various development institutions through the urban community project.
“The DBP implements this project for the benefit of urban poor communities outside Metro Manila through the assistance of the Asian Development Bank and the cooperation of local government units, microfinance institutions and non-government organizations,” Resmundo said.
The commission said the bank had released some P46.4 million to microfinance institutions and local governments between September 2007 and January 2008 under the project.
Panganiban said qualified local government units, microfinance institutions, cooperatives and non-government organization that wish to provide housing services for the urban poor through the urban community project need only to submit a letter of intent to the DBP to avail of financial assistance. -- Ira Karen Apanay
