100,000 ‘condo units’ for informal settlers in 5 years—NHA chair

WATERWAY HAZARDS Shanties hug the floodway banks in Pasig City. In the background are the high-rise condominiums of Eastwood in Libis, Quezon City. The government has announced it is ready to relocate residents living along the waterways of the metropolis. EDWIN BACASMAS

MANILA, Philippines—Informal settlers to be affected in the clearing of rivers and flood ways will be housed in government-funded medium-rise condominium buildings in the next five years, Atty. Chito Cruz, general manager of the National Housing Authority (NHA) told Radyo Inquirer 990 AM early Wednesday.

“We are already looking for sites for these projects with the help of our local government units and our target is about 20,000 units per year, thus completing the 100,000-unit requirement in five years,” he said.

Earlier, the Aquino government was bombarded with various criticisms from urban poor groups for issuing a statement that those who will be affected are 100,000 squatter families living along riverbanks whose houses are to be demolished.

Transportation and Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson used the phrase “to be blasted.”

However, Cruz said that each unit to be provided to affected families requires a minimum rental fee.

For more, listen to the attached audio clip from Radyo Inquirer 990 AM.