President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr on Monday called for increased government and private sector collaboration in constructing decent and affordable shelters for the people, especially those living in the danger zones, under the administration’s “Build, Better, More” Housing Program.
The President made this call in two separate events in Valenzuela City and nearby Malabon City, where the chief executive led the ceremonial turnover of 1,380 housing units under the St. Gregory Homes Project.
In his speech in Malabon City, the President said ensuring the success of the government’s human settlements and housing projects is close to his heart, noting he has prioritized solving the country’s housing backlog.
President Marcos said,
“Kaya naman po ay hinamon ko ang aking sarili at ang aking mga kapwa lingkod-bayan sa DHSUD [Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development], sa NHA [National Housing Authority], lalong-lalo na ang ating mga LGUs [local government units] na matugunan ang mga pangangailangan na pabahay sa loob ng aking termino bilang Pangulo.”
“Aking inaatasan muli ang NHA, DHSUD, at ang iba pang mga kaugnay na ahensya ng pamahalaan na magpatuloy sa masusing pagbibigay-lunas sa ating suliranin sa pabahay, at tiyakin na walang sinuman na maiiwanan at mapapabayaan sa ating sama-sama na pagsulong at sa ating sama-sama na pag-unlad.”
The President also encouraged the housing beneficiaries to continue supporting the administration’s projects and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of Filipinos.
The St. Gregory Homes Project is a resettlement site comprising 23 five-story low- rise buildings with 1,380 residential units built through a partnership between the NHA and the Malabon LGU aimed at providing safe and decent housing to residents.
The housing project will accommodate informal settler families living along Malabon City’s waterways and danger zones, and those affected by the construction of Department of Public Works and Highways’ pumping stations.
As of February 27, 720 units are ready for occupancy, while around 400 families have already moved in.
Earlier in the morning, President Marcos led the groundbreaking of the Disiplina Village Arkong Bato Park in Valenzuela City, where he said:
“Tiyakin natin na ang mga maninirahan dito ay magkakaroon ng sapat na oportunidad upang makapag-hanapbuhay at magkaroon ng pagkakakitaan gamit ang kanilang mga talento at kasanayan.”
“Mahalagang makipagtulungan sa iba pang mga ahensya ng gobyerno at pribadong sektor upang maisakatuparan ang ating mga kolektibong hangarin. Gayundin, tiyakin natin na ang ating mga gusali ay matatag gamit ang kalidad at matibay na mga materyales,” the chief executive added.
The President expressed delight in attending the project’s groundbreaking, as he vowed to launch similar projects in the future and to continuously work in finding idle government lands suitable for mass shelter projects for the people.
President Marcos said,
“Patuloy nating pinag-aaralan kung paano isasagawa ang pagtukoy at paggamit sa mga bakanteng lupa ng gobyerno na maaaring tayuan ng mga pabahay, ayon sa ating mga batas at alituntunin,”
Valenzuela City’s Disiplina Villages are complete communities providing residents with access to schools, health centers and other government services.
The fourth Disiplina Village will rise in a 2.07-hectare land in Barangay Arkong Bato, Valenzuela City, where a total of 20 five-storey buildings intended for 1,200 ISFs living along the Tullahan River and the Manila Bay will be built in support of the administration’s Build Better More Housing Program.
The first three Disiplina Villages were built in Barangays Ugong, Bignay, and Lingunan, Valenzuela City.
The Disiplina Villages in Ugong and Bignay were built on a 12.9-hectare site for ISFs affected by Typhoon Ondoy in 2009, becoming the first two in-city relocation sites and public rental housing projects for ISFs in the country.
Sources: THX News & Office of the President.
