DHSUD, QC gov't ink deals for in-city rental housing projects for informal settlers

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the Quezon City government on Tuesday signed two memoranda of agreement (MOAs) on in-city rental housing for informal settler families (ISFs), including those living along waterways and danger zones.

In a statement, DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said the MOAs are in accordance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to improve the implementation of the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

“Napalawak na natin ang 4PH para mas maraming makinabang. Ang pagsasanib pwersa ng DHSUD at Quezon City ay patunay sa pag arangkada ng rental housing sa ilalim ng Expanded 4PH,” Aliling said on Wednesday.

(We have expanded the 4PH so that more will benefit from it. The joint efforts of the DHSUD and Quezon City is proof of the advancement of rental housing under the Expanded 4PH.)

“Sa pamamagitan ng mga proyektong ito na paniguradong ligtas at dekalidad, hindi lamang po natin inilalayo sa kapahamakan ang ating mga kababayan na nakatira sa mga waterways at danger zones kung di makakatulong pa tayo sa pag-resolba sa perennial na problema ng pagbaha,” he added.

(Under these projects that are sure to be safe and of top quality, we will not only relocate our countrymen living near waterways and danger zones, but we will also help resolve the perennial problem of flooding.)

Under the MOAs, the DHSUD will support the construction of medium-rise rental housing buildings in areas in Barangays Sauyo and Bagong Silangan to be identified by the Quezon City local government unit (LGU).

Necessary utility systems such as roads, power, drainage, and water distribution shall be included in these projects.

The projects will benefit around 2,900 individuals living along waterways and danger zones in Quezon City. The DHSUD and the Quezon City LGU are now finalizing details of the rental housing projects.

The first rental housing project under the Expanded 4PH Program is the Marilag Residences inside the University of the Philippines Diliman campus. It has already begun initial site works and is expected to benefit at least 3,000 individuals.

The two MOAs were the results of last year’s exploratory meeting between Aliling and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.

Apart from these three rental housing projects in Quezon City, similar rental housing projects under the Expanded 4PH are slated to start soon in Victorias City and Iloilo City in the Visayas. — JMA, GMA Integrated News