Dubbed as "Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program: Zero Informal Settler Family (ISF) by 2028," the program is one of the priority agenda of Pres. Marcos' administration. 

The groundbreaking of the national housing project was held at the USWAG Village, Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, Iloilo City, Sept. 30.

It was led by Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Sec. Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar, together with Iloilo City mayor Jerry Treñas and Iloilo City lone district Representative Julienne Baronda.

The same event for the Visayas' "Pabahay" program launching was also held on the same day in Bacolod City in Negros Occidental and Roxas City in Capiz. 

“I think within a month or one and a half months, the construction activities of the project may be able to begin already because the documentation for funding between Pag-IBIG and the contractor will be set right away,” said Acuzar.

Apart from the initial 700 units to be constructed, DHSUD targets to accomplish at least 12,000 units for Iloilo City amounting to approximately P12 billion through the program to address the housing needs and entirely eliminate the slums in the metro, particularly those that are near the coastal zones.

“The moment we eradicate the ISF, it is bound to increase the economic drive of every city in the country as this could spur growth in real-estate value. Thus, this current administration aims to fix all the blighted areas and provide them with good housing,” Acuzar noted.

Meanwhile, Mayor Treñas envisions to create more housing projects for the city, signifying that the local government is ready for more housing partnerships with other agencies.

“We are ready to partner with DHSUD with 2.7 hectares of land here. This program is not only for ISFs but also for medium workers. As you know, we have backlogs of almost 15,000 units, so with this program, I let them identify our informal settlers within the city. ISF already accounts to at least 2,700,” declared Treñas.

He added that the city is now in the process of procuring additional eight hectares of land that will be allotted for housing projects to be developed by the city itself or in partnership with National Housing Authority and DHSUD. (JBG/April Grace Padilla/PIA6)