Hundreds of informal settler families (ISFs) and low-income earners in Pasig City will soon have their own homes without relocating in areas far away from their workplaces and schools following an in-city mass housing agreement between the local government unit and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said the project is part of the mass housing program intended to address the 6.5 million housing backlog, especially in Metro Manila where a high percentage of ISFs are located.
“The highest percentage of ISFs are found here in Metro Manila, so pushing for the implementation of in-city projects is our priority. It would really have a huge positive impact on the lives of most of our kababayans wanting to have their own homes,” said Acuzar.
The in-city, on-site strategy in mass housing has been aggressively pushed by Acuzar based on the lessons in the past wherein some housing projects ended up abandoned by their supposed occupants.
Several beneficiaries opted to return to Manila after the mass housing sites are located in areas far away from their workplaces, which means they have to shell out more money for transportation cost.
Some of the housing projects also encountered water and electricity supply problems.
Acuzar said the Memorandum of Understanding he signed with Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto would pave the way for in-city housing projects for informal settler families (ISFs) and low-income earners in the area.
For his part, Sotto said they have already identified both the housing sites and the intended beneficiaries.
“Initially, we have identified two projects because we have those informal settler communities that also want to have their own homes. They are exciterd over the idea of having their own homes,” said Sotto.
Acuzar, meanwhile, lauded what he described as Pasig City’s innovative leadership and best practices which could also be shared with other LGUs. He likewise assured the city of the Department’s commitment and full support until the project’s completion.