Pag-IBIG Fund and the City Government of Naga began turning over affordable homes Tuesday to qualified city government employees who are acquiring their properties through Pag-IBIG Housing Loans. The turnover marks the first group of city employees to become homeowners through a partnership signed just two months ago to help public servants, particularly those in lower salary grades and first-time homebuyers, gain greater access to affordable housing and financing.

The Naga City Employees’ Housing Project initially covers 576 housing units at BellaVita Naga in Barangay Pacol, each priced at an affordable ₱350,000. Making the homes even more affordable, qualified employees may purchase them through Pag-IBIG Housing Loans at a subsidized interest rate of just 3% per annum for the first five years under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (Expanded 4PH) Program.

Naga City Mayor Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo said the project addresses a long-standing aspiration of the city government to provide affordable housing opportunities for its employees, particularly those who previously found homeownership beyond their means.

“For many years, it has been our aspiration to provide housing opportunities for our city government employees, but affordability has always been a challenge, especially for those in the lower salary grades. Through our partnership with Pag-IBIG Fund and BellaVita, that aspiration is now becoming a reality. With Pag-IBIG Fund providing affordable financing terms and a subsidized 3% interest rate, we were able to make homeownership possible for employees who previously could not afford it,” Robredo said.

“We especially appreciate how quickly this partnership has delivered results. Just two months after signing our agreement, more than 100 housing loan accounts have already been taken out, and we are very happy to see our employees and their families becoming homeowners. We hope to complete the takeout of all 576 housing units by October, and eventually extend the same opportunity to our teachers, uniformed personnel, and other workers in Naga, including those in the informal sector who are also Pag-IBIG Fund members,” she added.

Robredo also expressed appreciation to Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling for his leadership in advancing the Expanded 4PH Program and expanding affordable homeownership opportunities for Filipino workers.

The turnover coincided with Jesse Robredo Day, which honors the former Naga City mayor and interior secretary’s legacy of good governance, leadership and public service.

Pag-IBIG Fund and the City Government of Naga signed a memorandum of understanding in mid-June to help city employees acquire affordable homes. Pag-IBIG Fund, Naga City and BellaVita subsequently put in place a government-to-government documentation arrangement to streamline loan processing and facilitate the takeout and turnover of homes to qualified employee-beneficiaries.

Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta said the Naga project, which brings together the city government, Pag-IBIG Fund and Ayala Land’s affordable housing development in Naga, shows how national and local government can work with the private sector to make affordable homeownership more accessible to working Filipinos. The initiative comes as Pag-IBIG Fund further strengthens its collaboration with Ayala Land, most recently through a memorandum of understanding with its residential brands Avida and Amaia to expand quality housing choices and Pag-IBIG financing options for Filipino workers.

“We continue to heed President Marcos’ direction to widen access to affordable homeownership for working Filipinos, including government employees who devote their careers to public service. What we are seeing in Naga shows how this direction can be translated into actual homes when a local government identifies the needs of its workforce and government institutions align housing delivery and affordable financing around those needs. This is the one-government approach we are advancing, with national and local government working together to help more Filipinos become homeowners and build better, more dignified lives,” Acosta said.

“We thank Mayor Leni Robredo and the City Government of Naga for working hand in hand with Pag-IBIG Fund to make this possible. For us, partnerships should lead to more than agreements on paper. What matters most is seeing our members receive the keys to homes of their own and knowing that, through our shared efforts, more Filipino families are gaining the security and opportunity to build better lives,” Acosta added.