Housing project for DA-6 employees up
Employees of the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) are among the first recipients of the agency’ nationwide housing project.
The housing project will sit on the five hectares government property in the compound of the Western Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center (Wesviarc) in Hamungaya, Jaro.
The beneficiaries numbering to 300 employees will avail a home lot of 100 square meters. At present, the home lot is valued at P250,000. The price of the property will increase since the housing project site is considered as development area with the construction of a circumferential road to the Iloilo airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo.
Of the five hectares, three hectares is allocated for the housing project while the remaining two hectares is intended for its land development which include road networks, sewerage system, parks, lighting system, among others.
The land which used to be an agricultural land was converted into a residential land. The land allocation for the housing project was based on Presidential Proclamation No. 1801 signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on June 10, 2009.
The housing project will benefit 300 employees of the DA regional field office. The beneficiaries are permanent and casual employees with at least five years of employment as of June 30, 2003; those with five years employment from June 30, 2003 or earlier to July 20, 2009 and those who retired from service effective July 1, 2003 to July 20, 2009 and with at least five years of employment.
The date June 20, 2009 is a significant date in the rules since it was the time when the Guidelines for the Housing Project by the General Assembly was approved by the committee.
Yesterday, the blessing of the housing site and lowering of the time capsule was made with the DA Assistant Secretary Clayton Olalia as guest.
Asec. Olalia said the realization of the project is a manifestation of a collective effort of the DA’s officials and employees. The vision to have a decent housing project for employees was realized after 10 years.
Region 6 is the first recipient of the housing project. They even came ahead of DA’s central office. The same plans are being initiated in the different regions, said Olalia.
The department is looking for a possibility to help the employees avail of a loan from the PAG-IBIG, GSIS and Land Bank. DA is not empowered to provide housing loans to employees.
He asked DA-6 Regional Director Larry Nacionales to allocated additional five hectares inside the research compound for the livelihood program of the employees which include the construction of a Bagsakan or Talipapa and a farm.
The additional five hectares will be for agricultural purposes. They can plant and same time sell their produce through a cooperative.
The project would not only be good for the housing project giving the employees decent housing. It will also serve as a “show window” for the agricultural produce from the agriculture department using new technologies especially in rice production, said Olalia.