Clients and staff of Alalay Sa Kaunlaran (ASKI), Inc. who have financial constraints in building or improving their houses need not have to worry because the organization signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) on housing projects last December 19, 2006.

The project was entitled ASKI Program for Housing Livelihood Development (APHold). DBP invested a total of P50M for the said project. The program components are as follows; New Housing Assistance, House Improvement Loan, and Livelihood Project Assistance.

“Generally, this program aims to improve the quality of life of clients and staff by providing financial assistance for housing thus enjoying a well protected, pleasant and conducive place to live in”, said the proponent of the project.

The provinces covered by the project are Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Tarlac in Region III and Cagayan and Isabela in Region II. ASKI have been operating in said target areas for years.

The qualified clients are those who stayed in ASKI’s micro-finance program for at least two years and have a minimum savings (capital build-up) of Php10, 000. The staff on the other hand should have rendered at least five years of service in the organization with good records and credibility.

Those who will qualify in the housing loan is entitled to Php30, 000 to Php300, 000 which could be paid on a monthly or quarterly basis for a maximum of 7 years. Loan amount and payment duration is dependent on the housing project applied.

Livelihood project assistance component on the other hand is meant for additional working capital. Applicant may avail Php5, 000 to Php25, 000 loans which can be paid on a weekly or monthly basis within four months to one year.