KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO — A total of 313 informal settler families in the Municipality of Tantangan have been validated by the Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (OPSWDO) as part of the Provincial Government of South Cotabato’s ongoing efforts to identify qualified beneficiaries for the Relokasyon Sigurado para sa Tao (RST) Pabahay Program.
The development was reported during the regular meeting of the Local Poverty Reduction Task Force (LPRTF) held last week at Agua Frio Garden Resort in Koronadal City.
The house-to-house validation conducted by the OPSWDO is intended to establish an accurate database of informal settler families and provide baseline information for the assessment and selection of potential beneficiaries of the provincial housing program.
Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Sonia L. Bautista emphasized that the validation process is necessary to ensure that housing assistance is provided to families who genuinely need and qualify for the program based on established criteria.
“Our validation process is important to ensure that the beneficiaries of the RST Pabahay Program are properly identified and that the assistance will be given to families who truly need it. We want to make sure that every beneficiary is carefully assessed based on the established criteria,” Bautista said.
Bautista also reported that the validation of informal settler families in the municipalities of Norala and Polomolok is expected to be completed within the year.
The validation activities form part of the provincial government’s broader efforts to strengthen its database on informal settler families and improve the targeting and delivery of housing assistance.
Meanwhile, the Landbanking Committee reported progress in identifying and evaluating potential sites for the RST Pabahay Program.
The committee emphasized that proposed properties will undergo proper verification and valuation, including assessment of their location, land area, and appraised market value, before any public funds are allocated for land acquisition.
It also assured the LPRTF that land banking activities will comply with existing laws, government rules and regulations, zoning requirements, and other applicable legal issuances.
The Office of the Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator (OPPDC), meanwhile, is set to institutionalize the Housing Board within its organizational structure as part of the province’s long-term approach to housing development.
The OPPDC will also spearhead the formulation of the Provincial Housing Code, which will provide a policy framework and institutional direction for housing-related programs and initiatives in the province.
The institutionalization of the Housing Board and the formulation of the Provincial Housing Code are expected to strengthen the province’s housing governance and provide a more coordinated approach to addressing the housing needs of vulnerable families.
The LPRTF, composed of representatives from local government units, provincial government offices, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders, reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration in addressing poverty and improving the living conditions of vulnerable families.
Through the RST Pabahay Program, the Provincial Government of South Cotabato continues to work toward providing secure and decent housing opportunities for qualified families while strengthening policies and mechanisms for inclusive and sustainable housing development in the province.
