latter housing projects were partnered by the Sectoral Council of Persons with Disabilities of the National Anti Poverty Commission, the National Housing Authority, the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council hudcc, the PAG-IBIG Housing Fund and the respective Local Government Unitis and the Department of Interior and Local Government. Other housing schemes for persons with disabilities are still in the proposal stages. These schemes include allocating a certain percentage of the housing units to persons with disabilities who can demonstrate capability to sustain agreed payment schemes. The Gawad Kalinga program in partnership with Habitat International has started bringing a good number of capable persons with disabilities beneficiaries into its community and housing projects. The sector is positively responding to the scheme due to its inclusive and holistic nature. 6 While persons with disabilities appeal to local government to create a PWD village in every municipality, there is a need to rethink housing programs for PWDS. Donors and observers like the National Committee on the UN CRPD on the Sectoral Council of Persons with Disabilities concluded that exclusive housing for PWDs may not be the best way of responding to their needs. Unclear mechanisms to access housing programs The available mechanisms to target right beneficiaries for the housing programs are unclear and flawed. Typically, the unintended beneficiaries are better educated (and sometimes, better connected politically), and can present themselves as worthy beneficiaries of government subsidy programs to the prejudice of the intended beneficiaries. This has happened not only in the housing subsidy programs but also in other government subsidy programs.7 As shared in the FGD, “The problem encountered by PWDs, often the person handling and implementing the program has political bias. For example, if you are not known supporter of the Mayor, you are excluded in the program. I hope this kind of practice is stop. Below standard housing units and poor facilities In cases where persons with disabilities were able to avail housing units, it is not livable. Persons with disabilities seem more likely to experience problems associated with housing deprivation such as lack of access to electricity and potable water, no bath or shower in the dwelling, as well as absence of schools and health centers in the proximity of the housing units. 6 7 http://www.yorku.ca/drpi/files/PhilippinesLawsRep.pdf https://dirp3.pids.gov.ph/ris/books/pidsbk01-housing.pdf 19