Former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno during the launch of a housing program in the city
MANILA, Philippines — Manila residents have attested to the efficacy of the housing projects launched by former Mayor Isko Moreno, stating that these resettlement areas have provided security for families.
Housing beneficiary Nieves Florita said in a statement that she initially feared becoming a victim of common resettlement issues, where informal settlers and displaced individuals are relocated to areas far from their places of work and study.
“I thought we’d be displaced far away. It’s a relief that we’re still near our jobs,” Florita said in Filipino.
Another resident, Rodrigo Esteban, noted that the housing projects have given them a sense of security.
“I’ve been able to find peace as this has been a significant help to my family’s security,” Esteban added.
Moreno was behind various housing projects in Manila, aiming to address the rising number of homeless individuals in the city, which was previously estimated to be around 200,000 families.
In February 2022, Moreno led the inauguration of the 15-storey Tondominium I, one of the city government’s infrastructure projects aimed at providing high-quality yet low-cost housing for Manila’s residents.
“Hopefully, in our small way, we have improved their standard of living, allowing the poor to enjoy what the rich experience. Today is the day that the Lord has made, where in our own little way, equality is gradually felt by our fellow citizens,” Moreno said in an interview back in 2022.
READ: Isko Moreno inaugurates modern housing building for city’s informal settlers
Another vertical mass housing project in Binondo, aptly named Binondominium, was inaugurated in April 2022.
“Soon, they will no longer be considered squatters. I am happy for them. God is merciful; little by little,” he said during the inspection.
By the end of Moreno’s term, thousands of families had been relocated to secure, city-owned housing projects, offering them a new chance at life.
Manila has been identified as one of the most densely populated cities in the world, with many experts believing that the city’s primary issue is overcapacity, which can lead to other problems like heavy traffic, trash disposal, and pollution.
Before Moreno’s initiatives, many informal settlers faced constant threats of eviction, exposure to health risks, and a lack of basic amenities such as access to clean water and electricity.
READ: Isko Moreno sa mga Manilenyo: Dinidinig ko ang sigaw nyo
Over his three years in office, from 2019 to 2022, six major housing projects were either completed or initiated:
- Basecommunity, a 229-unit townhouse complex located in Baseco, Manila, completed in July 2021
- Tondominium I and Tondominium II, vertical housing projects accommodating 336 families
- Binondominium, a 168-unit facility for informal settlers in Binondo
- San Lazaro Residences, launched to benefit 382 families