DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano and MIAA General Manager Eric Jose Ines show the copies of a memorandum of agreement they signed for the construction of a staging area for informal settler families (ISFs) in Pasay City that will be displaced by the in-city, on-site mass housing. (photo: DHSUD)
Amid the in-city and on-site mass housing projects of the Marcos administration especially in Metro Manila and other urban areas, where do informal settler families (ISFs) go while their new houses are under construction?
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) assured that they will not be displaced as the national government will construct temporarily shelter areas until such time that they could move in to their new homes.
DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar set as an example the memorandum of agreement he signed with Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano which involves the establishment of a staging area for ISFs who will need to be relocated during the construction of the 4PH project in Pasay City.
“They will stay there until the permanent housing units are turned over to the qualified beneficiaries. This initiative of establishing a staging area for ISFs is another first under the PBBM administration as it prioritizes the welfare of the common people and promoting whole of government approach,” said Acuzar.
Aside from Acuzar and Calixto-Rubiano, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Eric Jose Ines also signed the agreement since the proposed staging area is near the airport.
The deal includes the construction of temporary shelters using prefabricated materials and the development of a livable community for qualified ISFs from a blighted zone in the city.
Acuzar said the in-city staging area is strategically located near the airport and about two kilometers from the informal settlement to be developed and transformed into a township development.
Based on the proposed housing project, the Pasay City 4PH project will include condominium-type housing units with commercial spaces.
“The staging area will be equipped with amenities like open park, playground, basketball and others,” said Acuzar.
The signed agreement includes responsibilities of the involved parties on beneficiary selection, land development, housing construction, social preparation, among others.