President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday led the ceremonial turnover of 1,380 housing units from the National Housing Authority (NHA) to beneficiaries at the St. Gregory Homes Project in Barangay Panghulo, Malabon City.
He personally awarded of Certificate of Eligibility of Lot Allocation (CELA) to informal settler families (ISFs) living along Malabon City’s waterways and danger zones, and those affected by the construction of Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) pumping stations.
In his speech, Marcos reiterated his commitment to addressing the country’s housing backlog within his six-year term.
“Napakalapit po sa aking puso ang pagsisiguro na maging matagumpay ang mga human settlements at housing projects ng ating gobyerno. Isa po sa binibigyan nating ng prayoridad at mabigyan ng solusyon ang napakatinding kakulangan ng pabahay dito sa Pilipino (Ensuring the success of our government’s human settlements and housing projects is very close to my heart. One of the things we give priority to and provide a solution to is the severe lack of housing here in the Philippines),” he said.
“Kaya naman po hinamon ko ang aking sarili at aking mga kapwa lingkod sa DHSUD [Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development], sa NHA lalong-lalo na ang ating mga LGU [local government unit] na matagunan ang mga pangangailangan na pabahay sa loob ng aking termino (That is why I challenged myself and my fellow employees in the DHSUD, NHA and our LGUs to meet the housing needs within my term),” he added.
He urged the NHA, DHSUD and other concerned agencies to continue to ensure that all Filipinos have a place they call home.
“Aking inaatasan muli ang NHA, DHSUD, at iba pang kaugnay na ahensya ng pamahalaan na magpatuloy sa masusing pagbibigay lunas sa ating suliranin sa pabahay at tiyakin na walang sinumang na maaiiwanan at mapapabayaan sa ating sama samang pagsulong at sama samang pagunlad (I once again instruct the NHA, DHSUD, and other relevant government agencies to continue providing remedy to our housing problem and ensure that no one is left behind and neglected in our common advancement and common development),” he said.
Marcos likewise called on beneficiaries to continue to support the government’s programs and projects that aim to help and improve the standard of living of every Filipino.
“Sana po magsilbi itong na paalala at patunay na ang proyektong ito ay handang gumabay at tumulong sa inyo tungo sa pagunlad ng inyong pamumuhay (I hope this serves as a reminder and proof that this project is ready to guide and help you towards the development of your way of life),” he added.
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 City government aimed at providing safe and decent housing to residents
The resettlement site is accessible to schools, commercial and institutional facilities, transport terminals, market, malls and hospitals.
As of Feb. 27, 720 units are ready for occupancy, while around 400 families have already moved in.
The housing project serves as a testament to NHA’s commitment to the “Build Better and More (BBM)” housing program that aims to create a sustainable community that provides livelihood opportunities for qualified beneficiaries.
The BBM Housing Program targets to deliver 1.3 million housing units to ISFs included in the 6 million housing units under the “Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program.”
Disiplina Village
Prior to turning over housing units in Malabon, Marcos also led the ceremonial groundbreaking of the “Disiplina Village Arkong Bato” in Barangay Arkong Bato, Valenzuela City — the fourth Disiplina Village.
He thanked the Valenzuela City government for its initiative in providing affordable housing units for ISFs.
“Ang Valenzuela ay napakagandang halimbawa sa ating pagsisikap ng makamit ang ating hangaring mabigyan ng maayos na pabahay ang ating mamamayan. Kaya naman hinihimok ko kayong lahat na ipagpatuloy ang pagtatayo ng dekalidad at abot kayang pabahay upang kayo ay aptuloy na maging sandigan ng bawat Pilipino (Valenzuela is a very good example of our effort to achieve our goal of providing proper housing to our people. That’s why I urge all of you to continue building quality and affordable housing so that you can continue to be the support of every Filipino),” he said.
Spearheaded by the NHA, DHSUD and Valenzuela City government, the Disiplina Villages are complete communities providing residents with access to schools, health centers and other government services.
The fourth Disiplina Village will rise on a 2.07-hectare land. There will be a total of 20 five-story buildings intended for 1,200 ISFs living along the Tullahan River and Manila Bay.
The first three Disiplina Villages were built in Barangays Ugong, Bignay and Lingunan in 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.
The housing project is also in line with the Marcos administration’s 4PH Program. (PNA)
