Over 6,000 informal settler families (ISFs) will be resettled under the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) railway infrastructure development plans.
During the House Committee on Appropriations budget hearing with the transport agency, Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas asked the DOTr about the number of ISFs that would be resettled as part of the agency’s railway system initiatives.
About P113.987 or 81.6 percent of the DOTr’s P166.7 billion budget under the 2023 National Expenditure Program (NEP) will go toward bolstering the country’s railway infrastructure.
READ: https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/13/120-4-increase-in-dotr-budget-to-mostly-fund-rail-system-upgrades/
“Pansin namin sa budget walang resettlement ng mga matatamaan ng mga big ticket projects. Pano po yung resettlement ng mga mawawalan ng tirahan (We noticed in the budget that there was no resettlement for those hit by big ticket projects. What will happen to those who will lose their homes)?” Brosas asked the DOTr during the hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 13.
DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Cesar Chavez gave a breakdown of just how many ISFs would be affected by the railway boost, specifically, under the Philippine National Railway (PNR) extension.
“Manila to Malolos , ang ISF na dapat ilipat po (that should be relocated) is 2,448...Malolos to Clark, that’s about 52 kilometers, six additional stations, we identified 864 ISFs. Out of 864, 232 na ang narelocate (were relocated),” Chavez enumerated.
“Sa Metro Manila Subway, 183 ISF ang (were) identified, all of them, relocated,” he continued.
“Yung mga (The) ISF within the alignment of PNR Manila to Malolos and Malolos to Clark, nasa (are now in) Valenzuela. Sila po ay nailikas sa (They were moved to) Disiplina village ng Valenzuela. Marami na po ang nailipat sakanila (Many of them were moved already). Yung iba naman po ay nailipat sa (The others were moved to) Camarin, Caloocan,” Chavez said.
“There are at least 6,200 ISF from Clark to Calamba. Clark to Calamba is about 147 kilometers covering 35 stations,” he said.
Chavez further explained that the relocations under Manila to Calamba were jointly funded by the Asian Development Bank {ADB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
“Ang maganda po sa ADB, maganda ang social safety nets na binigay nila. Maliban sa dapat maliwanag kung saan sila irerelocate, number two, bayaran din yung structures kung saan silang naninirahan nayo (The ADB has good social safety nets. On top of finding a clear area to relocate, number two, the structures where they will reside in need to be paid for),” Chavez explained.
“Under the ADB loan agreement with the Philippine government, mayroong (there is) P3,000, P5,000, to P10,000 ay (for) interim rental subsidy,” he added.