BACOLOD CITY –– The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on second reading a bill that will give adequate housing to informal settlers affected by infrastructure projects or disasters.
Rep. Francisco Benitez of Negros Occidental’s third district and chairman of the House committee on housing and urban development sponsored House Bill 8348, which seeks to institutionalize in-city housing to address the needs of informal settlers.
“We are committed to fulfilling our people’s right to the city. The in-city housing bill, passed by the House of Representatives on second reading, is a concrete step towards this direction,” Benitez said.
The bill will ensure that informal settler families affected by infrastructure projects or disasters are provided with adequate housing within their city of residence or in the adjacent local government unit and that they are given a voice in the resettlement process, he added.