The continuing rehabilitation of the Pasig River may result in the displacement of up to 10,000 informal settler families (ISFs), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Undersecretary Avelino Tolentino III said on Monday, Jan. 22.
But Tolentino assured that those who would be affected would be relocated as part of the government's contingency plan for the project.
“Aabot sa 5,000 hanggang 10,000 na ISF ang maaapektuhan ng proyektong ito, kaya yung mga pamilya ay ililipat po sa Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) nang sa gayon ay pansamantalang mayroon silang tahanan (This project will impact around 5,000 to 10,000 ISFs, therefore families will be transported to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) for a temporary home),” he said in an interview with PTV Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.
Tolentino also noted that the DHSUD wants to build high-rise structures to serve as long-term residences for relocated families near villages.
In a bid to locate available locations for these temporary shelters, he continued, the organization is working with the mayors of Metro Manila.
“This program is to make sure that we bring them into more sustainable, safer resettlements, so as part of this Pasig urban development, we are also proposing to put up a housing settlement for our citizens.”
“While we are working towards being the private sector capital in this project, maintaining the connection with the mayors of Metro Manila would be guaranteed,” he added.
The Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli project, the personal endeavor of First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, is an urban development initiative intended to transform the Pasig River into an economic center.
Tolentino said that P18 billion of the project's estimated cost is being provided by private investors.
He said that the entire project, including the resettlement process, might take a maximum of three years.