10,000 Metro Manila residents apply for ‘Balik Probinsya’ program-NHA

The National Housing Authority (NHA) said Wednesday around 10,000 Metro Manila residents already applied in “Balik Probinsya” program of the national government.

The “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa” program aims to decongest the National Capital Region and develop the life and economy in the province.

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President Rodrigo Duterte, on May 6, signed Executive Order 114 to implement the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program.

“(It is) very promising because three days or four days thereafter, I already see 10,000 enrollees all over Metro Manila going to the top 10 provinces and municipalities of our country,” NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr. said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

Escalada said Leyte, Bohol, Samar, and Camarines Sur are among these ten provinces.

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The official also said NHA is currently validating the online applicants’ identity. He added that they even ask the applicants to indicate in the form which livelihood they want to engage with once they move back to their provinces.

10,000 Metro Manila residents apply for ‘Balik Probinsya’ program-NHA

“’ Yun ang tumbok natin ngayon, fishing ba, farming ba, sari-sari store ba, driving? There are 10 options (in the application form), dropdown lang, so that specific ‘yung interventions ng ating government agencies involved,” he said.

(That is what we want to focus on. Is it fishing, farming, convenience store, or driving? There are 10 options (in the application form) which are in a dropdown list. This way, the government agencies involved could give specific interventions.)

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Escalada stressed that coordination with provincial, local government units (LGUs) is also crucial so they could prepare for the NCR residents who will go back to the provinces.

He also said the agency would ensure that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) would automatically transfer the voter registration of Balik Pag-asa beneficiaries.

“Above all, ito’ yung pinakabagong infusion ko sa program. I will make sure that Comelec will automatically register the transfer of our kababayans from Metro Manila to the provinces, ma-transfer na siya kaagad in terms of residency and registration,” he said.

(Above all, this is my latest infusion to the program. I will make sure that Comelec will automatically register the transfer of our countrymen from Metro Manila to the provinces, that they will be transferred immediately in terms of residency and registration.)