Prior to the construction of the housing projects, local government units (LGUs) are enjoined to aid in the identification of ‘staging areas’ that will serve as the temporary relocation sites of informal settler families (ISFs).
These staging areas will utilize the nearby government-owned or private properties and idle lands to prevent the displacement of affected ISF communities during the construction phase of the said housing units.
“The ISF families will not be displaced as we plan in-city relocation,” said DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., noting that the transition period will take about one to two years at the very least.
For his part, MMDA Acting Chairperson Atty. Don Artes ensured that a dedicated Technical Working Group will be created to oversee the inventories of all available and suitable lands for the housing program in Metro Manila.
Meanwhile, MMC President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora highlighted the concerted efforts of Metro Manila LGUs in supporting the successful rollout of the 4PH for residents in the National Capital Region (NCR).
“The Metro Manila mayors are in full support of the president’s housing program. It is my vision for San Juan to be informal settler families-free, and this project is an opportunity to make it possible and provide the ISFs with decent housing all over Metro Manila,” said Zamora.
It can be recalled that in December 2023, the Pag-IBIG Fund approved a P929 million revolving credit line for the construction of 2,264 medium and high-rise condominiums under the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC). Of these, 352 units will break ground in Tondo, Manila.
This adds to the initial P12 billion revolving credit line that the said government financial institution has approved for the National Housing Authority (NHA) which will finance the construction of 4,111 medium and high-rise condominium units in Quezon City, 1,337 in Valenzuela, and 535 in San Juan, among others.
The 4PH flagship program is designed to address the 6.5 million housing needs of Filipinos towards achieving the ‘Zero-ISF’ goal by 2028. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
