17,674 informal settlers in Quezon City get permanent housing

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte (center) with her constituents. Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Friday said that her administration is aggressively finding ways to solve the city’s pressing housing backlog.

In her first term, 17,674 poor families and informal settlers were given permanent housing under her Land Acquisition and Socialized Housing program. Belmonte’s overall housing strategy of secured socialized housing and inclusive growth prioritizes in-city relocation.

“My goal is to keep Quezon City residents within the city. f you are from QC, then you should be living inside QC,” she stressed.

The city government has already bought six parcels of land, with a total size of 22.5 hectares in Ramawil and Kanejin properties in Payatas, Tofemi properties in  Bagong Silangan, and Howmart Phase one in Baesa. Informal settlers were occupying these private lands for the past 40 years, dreaming to own the area, but now it has become a reality.

Different but affordable arrangements in various locations were being implemented. These include the Direct Purchase Program, benefitting 3,950 families; Community Mortgage Program for 206 families; Direct Sale for 292 families; House constructions for 960 families in Barangays Nagkaisang Nayon and Gulod; and Rental Housing Program for 317 families at a low monthly cost of P800.

For those displaced by disasters, fire, or demolition, 46 transition housing units were built in Barangay Bagong Silangan for their temporary shelter.

Meanwhile, negotiations with private landowners were ongoing for another 16.4  hectares of land to benefit 4,320 informal settlers in Barangays Matandang Balara, Bagong Silangan, Payatas, and Pasong Tamo. Also, the National Housing Authority and 4^th District Rep. Bong Suntay were working out details on providing permanent shelters to 6,783 families along NIA Road, Forestry, and Botanical Garden.

Belmonte further said construction has started for a 5-story residential building in Baranggay Baesa with 188 units, and that this would be followed by a 12-story residential building with 315 units in Barangay Balingasa, as well as another 5-story residential building with 207 units in Barangay Payatas. These high-rise residential developments, covering a smaller land area, would be more ideal for the city, she noted.

The local chief executive thanked the cooperation of beneficiary families, private lot owners, and the national government in fulfilling the longtime dream of homeownership of thousands of poor residents and informal settlers in Quezon City.

Belmonte assured that her administration’s battle cry “Una ka sa serbisyo” for all Quezon City residents will continue to be inclusive.