VP NOLI ASSURES AVAILABILITY OF SITES FOR INFORMAL SETTLER FAMILIES AFFECTED BY TYPHOON ONDOY AS WELL AS THOSE IN DANGER AREAS

October 7, 2009

Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Noli ‘Kabayan’ de Castro instructed yesterday (OCT 6) the National Housing Authority (NHA) and Home Guaranty Corporation (HGC) to facilitate the generation of additional house and lots within the next two months in the HGC properties in Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal for families displaced by Typhoon Ondoy.

“These properties will generate 2,613 serviced lots with housing units for families displaced by Typhoon Ondoy as well as those in danger areas, such as river banks, creeks, and esteros that need to be relocated,” De Castro explained.

“This set of inventory will accommodate the second batch of families who will be prioritized for relocation. As you can see, we are currently processing the transfer of the first set of families who need immediate relocation to our sites in Laguna and Bulacan. We have about 2,400 units in these sites ready for occupancy,” De Castro added.

De Castro reported at the last NDCC meeting the plans for the relocation of families affected by Typhoon Ondoy and those that need immediate relocation from danger areas. De Castro identified sites within the existing rail relocation communities which are ready for occupancy, the inventory of serviced lots that would require construction of core houses, and other sites that could undergo programmed and phased development.

“The President is in constant touch and has instructed me to make available housing stock at the soonest possible time, while DSWD and NDCC will determine the priority list of families for transfer. As I pointed out, we cannot just relocate families. We have to give them options and choices, however, limited these choices are. That is why I am looking at areas first which I think will be acceptable to the affected families and through the LGUs and NHA, we are consulting with them and bring them on trippings to see the sites,” De Castro said.

“We are also grateful to the mayors of Sta. Rosa, Binan, Calauan and Rodrigues, Rizal for accommodating displaced families from Metro Manila, even as they themselves have families rendered homeless by the typhoon. As a gesture of goodwill, we will also allocate units for their displaced families on a one to one ratio,” De Castro added.

From Montalban, De Castro proceeded to a Zonal Improvement Program (ZIP) of NHA in Balubad, Barangay Nangka in Marikina to distribute relief goods to the project beneficiaries who were severely affected by the flooding in Marikina.

home   |   Press Release main page   |