The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has committed to prioritize informal settler families (ISFs) living along danger zones in the government’s housing projects.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar issued the statement following the death of three informal settlers when a tree collapsed into their houses along the along Estero de Magdalena in Manila on Thursday, May 18.
The tragedy, reportedly triggered by heavy rains, also inflicted injuries to several informal settlers in the area.
“The national housing was programmed for those living in danger zones, this was the instruction by the President himself,” said Acuzar.
Unlike fragmented efforts of the previous administrations on relocating ISFs along esteros which proved unsuccessful, Acuzar said the Marcos Jr. administration's is pursuing a plan to cover all those living along danger zones.
One of them is a resettlement area near the North Harbor which he said would be home for medium-rise, in-city housing.
He said the program strategy is planned to implement practical solutions considering all facets of development – in this specific case from Pasig River rehabilitation to relocating ISFs along the esteros to in-city housing project sites.
He said DHSUD through the ‘Pambansang Pabahay’ will commence development initiatives once the ISFs are transferred to safer grounds and the sites are cleared.
“The moment we relocate the ISFs, we will introduce and implement the development plans along the easements to prevent squatting… once you put up site development like parks and gardens, definitely they would no longer live in dangerous areas,” said Acuzar.
As an assurance of continuous assistance, Acuzar said the housing projects in these areas will prioritize the relocated ISFs as beneficiaries to give them a chance to have a house of their own.
The DHSUD intends to build and dispense one million housing units per year until 2028 as a move to address the country’s housing gap at 6.5 million units.
The program promotes in-city, mixed-use development to maximize land area and ensure sustainability of housing communities.