34,000 families relocated from danger zones in 2013 – NHA

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – More than 34,000 informal settler families (ISF) have been relocated from danger zones and flood prone areas in Metro Manila in 2013, Vice President Jejomar Binay said on Monday.

“The National Housing Authority (NHA) has assisted in the relocation of some 34,000 families,” Binay, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), said in a statement.

“In August, an initial batch of ISFs living along the San Juan River relocated to San Jose Heights in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, one of the government’s resettlement sites under the ISF Housing Program,” he said.

The “special project” cost P50 billion to relocate more than 100,000 from danger zones over a span of five years.

At least 1,365 housing units are still being constructed by the NHA, Binay said.

More than 200 housing units have been completed for indigenous people such as the Aetas in Pampanga, Mangyans in Occidental Mindoro and Badjaos in Tawi-Tawi.

Binay said 208 units have been completed, with Occidental Mindoro having the most number of units constructed so far at a hundred, followed by Tawi-Tawi with 92 and Pampanga, 16.

“Another 400 units are expected to be built for the indigenous people in Banguingui and Panglima Estimo towns and Barangays Tulay and Pitogo, all in Sulu,” Binay said.