LOAN COMPLETION REPORT - LOAN 525-L-039

IT IS NOTED THAT GOP HAS MADE SUBSTANTAL PROGRESS TOWARD MEETING THE HOUSING NEEDS OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH THIS PROJECT. 20,052 HOUSING SOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES, AND WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF MIVI, GOP NOW HAS THE INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY TO PROVIDE FOR THE HOUSING NEEDS OF THE LOW-INCOME SECTOR. IN ADDITION, THE MINISTRY NOW HAS A CAPABLE STAFF OF 100 PROFESSIONALS INCLUDING 20 ENGINEERS,56 ARCLITECTS, 10 LAWYERS,5 SOCIOLOGISTS, 1 NOTARY PUBLIC AND 8 ECONOMISTS. AID FUNDS HELPED DEVELOP 6 TYPES OF HOUSING WHICH INCLUDED WATER/SANITARY SERVICES. COUNTERPART FUNDS WERE INCREASED BY $39 MILLION FOR A TOTAL GOP PARTICIPATION OF $63 MILLION. CREDIT LOAN PERIODS WERE EXTENDED TO HELP LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH HOME PURCHASES. IN ADDITION, TO MORE EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT THE RURAL HOUSING COMPONENT, THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING MADE TWO ADAPTATIONS IN PROJECT DESIGN: 1) MAXIMIZED USE OF SELF-HELP PARTICIPATION OF HOME OWNERS AND; 2) USE OF ASENTAMIENTOS AS THE MAJOR IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISM. SELF-HELP PARTICIPATION RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER CONSTRUCTION COSTS PER UNIT. USE OF ASENTAMIENTOS MADE LAND TITLE TRANSFERS EASIER AND ALLOWED SMALL FARMERS TO COORDINATE THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS WITH THE HARVESTING OF THEIR CROPS.