DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling and officials of UPLB headed by Chancellor Jose Camacho Jr. discuss the plans for the construcion of housing projects for low-income campus workers and informal settlers in the campus. (photo: DHSUD)
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is planning to build housing projects for low-income campus workers of the Los Baños, Laguna campus of the University of the Philippines (UPLB).
DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said they are now holding exploratory meetings with UPLB officials for the affordable rental housing projects that will not only benefit low-income campus workers but also informal settler families (ISFs) in the area.
He said UPLB officials headed by Chancellor Jose Camacho Jr. presented the proposed housing projects to DHSUD during the recent meeting on Thursday, Dec. 18.
During the meeting, UPLB officials explained that among their urgent concerns were the housing requirement of lower-income administrative school workers and ISFs living within the campus, especially those in the danger zones.
Aliling, for his part, suggested that the UPLB could just replicate the UP-Diliman project, whose master development plan was presented by the DHSUD team, to expedite the process.
Last month, DHSUD and UP Diliman officials signed an agreement for the Marilag Residences Rental Housing Project through a design-and-build scheme.
The project will benefit faculty members and non-teaching personnel of UP Diliman Campus in Quezon City.
Based on the agreement, the UP Office of Design and Planning Initiatives will provide construction management support to ensure alignment with the university's development standards.
Phase 1 of the project covers the construction of three four-story buildings with 107 housing units each, using prefabricated residential clusters.
A total of 321 units is set to be constructed along with essential utilities, drainage systems, water tanks, and designated access routes. Full-site development includes 152 parking slots, as well as access roads and utility connections.
The Pook Marilag Residences is slated to commence construction early next year.
The UPLB management, in turn, welcomed Aliling’s suggestion, and immediately identified three possible sites for their proposed housing projects.