Metro Manila cities join government's housing program 

More local government units (LGUs) in the National Capital Region (NCR) are signing up for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino:Zero ISF 2028 Program.

During the past days, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar went around the cities of Caloocan, Valenzuela and Malabon in northern Metro Manila for ocular inspection and signing of memorandums of understanding.

On Monday, Secretary Acuzar, along with top DHSUD and key shelter agency officials, inspected the Disiplina Village in Barangay Bignay, Valenzuela. The housing concept is touted as a model of a successful program for informal settler families (ISFs).

The DHSUD chief then proceeded to Malabon City to sign an MOU with Mayor Jeannie Sandoval for a possible housing project in the flood-prone city.

The roll out of the program in northern NCR came immediately after its launching on September 22 in Quezon City, which was followed by groundbreaking events in Bataan on the 24th.

The Team DHSUD then kicked off the program in the Visayas by breaking ground in the cities of Bacolod, Iloilo and Roxas.

“Ito na po ang simula ng pagbuo sa pangarap ng ating mga kababayan na magkaroon ng sariling tahanan na disente, ligtas at abot-kaya…sa pamamagitan ng pagtutulungan ng national government, key shelter agencies, LGUs, mga bangko, pribadong sektor at mga mamamayan,” Secretary Acuzar said in his speech in Malabon City.

“Makakaasa po kayo na kaagapay n’yo ang Marcos administration at ang DHSUD sa pagsasakatuparan ng pangarap n’yong ito,” he continued.

MODEL TOWNSHIP

The Disiplina Village is a benchmark project of Valenzuela City and is the largest in-city resettlement site in the country, according to the National Housing Authority. This subsidized settlement site, which is home to thousands of ISFs, are complete with concrete roads, markings and alleys, drainages and sewer system, as well as individual power and service connection – undoubtedly making them ideal communities.

Secretary Acuzar and Mayor Weslie Gatchalian spearheaded the ocular visit of the model township for its possible expansion, as well as to observe its exemplary features so that they could be replicated in other housing projects.

To date, the DHSUD has conducted groundbreaking ceremonies in six LGUs across the Philippines under President Marcos’ Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program. The agency is enjoining more LGUs and stakeholders to engage in the program which aims to address the country’s 6.5-million housing need by building and dispensing one million housing units every year or six million housing units within the six-year term of the current administration.