DHSUD starts ground works for QC housing project after NIA Road fire

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has started ground preparations for the construction of an in-city housing project for residents of NIA Road who were displaced by a fire last March.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling, DHSUD Senior Undersecretary Eduardo Robles Jr. and National Housing Authority (NHA) general manager Joeben Tai inspected the site on Monday to ensure that timelines for the new housing project are followed.

In a statement, the DHSUD said the NIA Road housing project – possibly under a rental housing arrangement – will be under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

Aliling said the housing project is part of the agency’s urban renewal program in collaboration with the NHA and the Quezon City local government unit (LGU).

The urban renewal initiative is aimed at transforming blighted areas into decent, safer and sustainable communities that promote dignified living for the beneficiaries.

“Malinaw po ang direktiba ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. – walang madi-displace kapag may mga sakuna. Kaya naman aksyon agad ang DHSUD kasama ang NHA at Quezon City government para sa pagtatayo ng proyektong pabahay dito sa NIA Road sa ilalim ng Expanded 4PH Program,” he said.

(President Marcos Jr.’s directive is clear – no one will be displaced in times of calamity. This is why the DHSUD acted promptly, along with the NHA and the Quezon City government, to construct a housing project here at NIA Road under the Expanded 4PH program.)

“Kasama po sa mandato ng DHSUD ang urban development, at itong NIA Road project ay magsisilbing model ng aming urban renewal efforts,” he added.

(The DHSUD’s mandate includes urban development, and this NIA Road project will be a model of our urban renewal efforts.)

It may be recalled that thousands of families lost their homes after a fire hit an community in Barangay Pinyahan along NIA Road in Quezon City on March 7.

Aliling and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte visited the site two days later and agreed to pursue the housing project under the Expanded 4PH.

The fire victims were given initial housing assistance following the incident. — JMA, GMA News