At least 34 Enhanced Community Mortgage Program (ECMP) sites have been approved by the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) under the government’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program this year, SHFC president and chief executive officer Federico Laxa said on Tuesday.

"We approved it within a period of two to three months. Now, we are processing their payments," Laxa told this reporter in an interview on the sidelines of the awarding of checks ceremony and inspection of the ECMP site at Centennial II-C Nagpayong I, Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City.

Centennial Sunrise, according to Laxa, is the first ECMP project they have issued a cheque to for land payment.

"The cheque that we have paid is P21 million. The land is really cheap," he said.

Around 74 beneficiaries or homeowner-members are occupying the 9,700-square-meter lot in the barangay, which was purchased by the government for its specialized housing program.

"It is still low. We still have discounts to give. Our amortization here is around P500 per month. That is really low. It is really low for you to have a lot in Metro Manila," Laxa said.

"The most important thing is the affordability of the people. They need to be able to pay. If the land is too expensive, we talk to the landowners. If they can lower the price a little bit because our people cannot afford it. So, basically, on the average, it is really cheap," he added.

Of the 34 ECMP sites approved, six are in Metro Manila, Laxa said.

"Not just here in Metro Manila. But here in Metro Manila, we approved about 6 ECMP sites. We also have one in Valenzuela City. But we also have one in Visayas and Mindanao," Laxa said.

"So, the geographical distribution of our ECMP sites is equally divided. This is the 34 sites for this year. We will continue to accept applications from other areas," he added.

For its part, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System–Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) assured homeowners of safe, clean, and affordable water after signing a memorandum of understanding with SHFC recently.

"To our water concessionaires, there is a mandate to ensure that the water that flows through our homes is safe, clean, and reachable. Our duty is to take care of the well-being of each consumer, especially the families who need it the most," MWSS-RO officer-in-charge Lee Roberto Britanico said in his speech during the awarding ceremony.

Britanico said they have implemented the Enhanced Lifeline Program (ELP) for individual water service connections, offering discounts of up to 10 cubic meters.

"So now, in the Enhanced Lifeline Program, which we started earlier this year, we have extended it to 20 cubic meters because we know that our households need more water," Britanico said.

The ELP is a program that provides lower water costs to qualified low-income households and marginalized housing communities, aiming to reduce expenses and provide reliable water service.

"Through the ELP, it is more likely that a clean and affordable water service will reach everyone," Britanico said.

Last Friday, 5 December, SHFC and MWSS-RO signed a memorandum of understanding for the implementation of the ELP program.

Under the agreement, MWSS-RO, SHFC, DHSUD, homeowners’ associations, and concessionaires will work together to identify and validate qualified beneficiaries to ensure they receive the correct service discount and more affordable access to water.

"At a time when the prices of basic goods are always increasing, any reduction in our monthly expenses is a big issue. So, the ELP is more than just a program. It is a way to protect our society and to give a long and stable life to our families," Britanico said.

"If the government and our communities work together, it will be possible to achieve change. We will continue to be your body in protecting a safe, stable, and inclusive community through reliable water services and strong support for home programs, such as this SHFC program, that serves our families in need," he added.