According to the National Housing Authority (NHA), about 10,000 residents of Metro Manila have enrolled in the government’s “Balik Probinsiya” initiative. Furthermore, it aims to decongest the National Capital Region and encourage more robust regional growth.
NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr. said Wednesday he saw a “very good signal” about the amount of workers involved in the initiative. The program had introduced just last May 6th.
“(It’s) very encouraging because three or four days later, I’ve already seen 10,000 registrations in Metro Manila. It was heading to the top ten provinces and municipalities in our country,” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.
According to the NHA official, Leyte, Bohol, Samar and Camarines Sur are among those 10 provinces.
Escalada said the Department is checking the online applicants’ forms. He added that there will be some questions in the application form about what livelihoods they plan to deal with once they enter their provinces.
He said, “This is where we want to concentrate. Will they go fishing, planting, establishing sari-sari stores or driving? There are ten options in the list in a drop down. Therefore, the relevant government agencies can have different interventions.”
He noted that there is also a need for cooperation with provincial local government units ( LGUs). It aims to ensure they are able to accept those who will return to the provinces.
Escalada also said he will ensure that the initiative’s beneficiaries will move immediately to the Elections Commission (Comelec). In addition, it goes for their voter registration.
In the next six months, many Metro Manila will join the “Balik Probinsiya”. About one million Metro Manila residents are expected to join the “Balik Probinsiya” scheme.
