By Mariela Angella Oladive
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) in a ceremony held on Tuesday, May 21, at the City Mayor’s Office.
This collaborative effort extends developmental loans to the City Government under the Group Housing Loan Program, benefiting the employees of the Uswag Low-Rise Residential Building in partnership with SM Development Corporation (SMDC).
Under the program, eligible beneficiaries will have access to decent housing at a fraction of the actual value, with units priced at only P450,000, significantly lower than the market rate of P2-3 million.
By the end of the third quarter of 2024, two twin-tower buildings generating a total of 120 units, each with a spacious 30 square meters, will be awarded to 120 hardworking City Hall employees who have rendered at least five years of service and are earning Salary Grade 8 and below.
These condominiums are fully equipped with ready water connections, electricity, sewage treatment plants (STP), cistern tanks, water pumps, water tanks, multi-risk engineering (MRE) systems, fire hydrants, and parking spaces, comparable to regular commercial condos.
Present at the signing ceremony were key figures including Engr. Evan Fucal of CFC-ANCOP; Engr. Noli D. Armada, Vice President of VisMin Home Landing Operations at Pag-IBIG Fund; Fermin Sta. Teresa, Jr., Senior Vice President of Pag-IBIG Business Development Sector; Executive Assistant to the Mayor Raisa Treñas Chu, and SMDC represented by Assistant Vice President Shiela Luz Ching.
Ching expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “As we celebrate this milestone, at SM, we firmly believe in the transformative power of collaboration and its profound impact on the community. Our donation for the Uswag Low-Rise Residential Building stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to community development and our steadfast support for local government initiatives.”
In his address, Sta. Teresa Jr. highlighted the significance of the housing project and expressed commitment to bringing Pag-IBIG Fund services directly to Iloilo City Hall for documentation. He also announced plans to make the project a model for Pag-IBIG’s countryside housing initiatives.
“We will include this in our material to highlight it as one of the best countryside housing initiative projects,” he remarked.
Treñas expressed his gratitude to the stakeholders involved, particularly SM and Pag-IBIG Fund, acknowledging the challenges faced during the project’s approval process. He recalled overcoming obstacles, including disagreements with Marawi leader Eduardo Del Rosario, emphasizing his dedication to securing affordable housing for city hall employees.
“For my beloved city hall employees, I’m willing to fight even the leader of Marawi,” Treñas stated.
He revealed that this program is the only one approved during the Duterte administration involving a developer and local government.
“Why? Because your Mayor is brave,” he added, highlighting his determination.
The mayor emphasized that he personally requested additional support from SM, asking for larger units for employees.
“Ang ginapangayo ko sa SM indi lang ordinary nga pila lang ka square meters. Ako ang nangayo para sa aton mga empleyado nga 30 square meters kag loftable pa, pwede pa kadugang sa baba,” he remarked.
[What I ask from SM is not just ordinary square meters; I ask for units that are 30 square meters with a loft, so you can add more space below.]
