The Regional Development Council (RDC) of Soccksargen (Region 12) is pushing for the inclusion of the region in the pilot areas for housing and other support projects under the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa (BP2) program.
The request was made to the National Housing Authority (NHA) by the council’s Special BP2 Committee headed by Technical Education and Skill Development Authority Director General, Secretary Isidro Lapeña, the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security of Region 12.
In a statement on Wednesday, Lapeña said they specifically asked the agency to consider including at least one province in the region as among the pilot sites for the BP2 program this year.
Citing a report from NHA, he said a total of 2,484 families from parts of the region have applied for support under the program as of last June 29.
South Cotabato posted the most number of applicants with 960, followed by North Cotabato with 844, Sultan Kudarat with 400, and Sarangani with 280.
“The applicants from North Cotabato and South Cotabato were higher than the total number of BP2 enrollees in other pilot provinces for 2021,” Lapeña said.
The BP2 pilot provinces are Isabela, Camarines Sur, Leyte, Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao Del Norte and Davao del Norte.
NHA heads the national secretariat of BP2, which helps low-income families who opt to move out of Metro Manila or the National Capital Region as well as other highly urbanized cities and return or relocate to other provinces.
It could be based on a voluntary decision to return to the provinces, loss of a job or other sources of income, unsafe current dwelling places, and exposure to health and safety risks, and other environmental hazards.
Through the program, the government provides returning families with support and incentives on transportation, family, livelihood, housing, subsistence, and education.
The Region 12 Special BP2 Committee is currently preparing the guidelines and the needed reports and data in anticipation of the program’s full implementation in the area.
Source: Philippines News Agency