P1.2B housing project to benefit Valenzuela informal settlers

The Valenzuela government has unveiled an ambitious program that will free the areas near waterways in the city of informal settlers in three years’ time.

Mayor Rexlon Gatchalian recently announced that the city government was building a community called Disiplina Village-Bignay on an 11-hectare expropriated property in Barangay (village) Bignay, Valenzuela City.

Once finished, the “mega-project” with a cost of P1.2 billion to be shouldered by both the city government and National Housing Authority (NHA), would house over 3,000 informal settler families currently living on the banks of three rivers that run through Valenzuela.

The project is in response to the national government’s equally ambitious target to clear of informal settlers the banks of rivers and other waterways—considered danger zones—in Metro Manila by 2016.

“This is the biggest in-city relocation program in Valenzuela City’s history. We aim to move some 3,000 informal settler families, or 15,000 individuals, currently living along the Tullahan River, Polo River and Meycauayan River in Valenzuela to the 11-ha Disiplina Village-Bignay by 2016,” Gatchalian said in an interview.

The 11-ha property, according to the mayor, will have over 90 low-rise buildings with 3,200 housing units.

“We will be implementing a public rental system for the units. This means that the property and the individual units will be owned by the city government. Settlers will have to pay a minimal fee of P300 per month in exchange for continuing to live in their respective units,” Gatchalian said.

The fee will be remitted to NHA to allow it to recoup its investment in the development of the property, he added. Residents can remain in their houses as long as they follow a stringent list of measures designed to keep order in the community.

“We believe this setup will [prevent] certain unscrupulous beneficiaries [from selling] their units. Every year, tenants will be evaluated and cited for any violation. They could really stay here for the rest of their lives as long as they don’t commit violations,” Gatchalian said.

Aside from the housing units, amenities will also be offered to cater to the needs of residents.

“We want this development to rival the best subdivisions in the city so we will ensure that there are enough open spaces and facilities for the residents. Disiplina Village-Bignay will have its own elementary and high schools, a transport terminal, a market, four basketball courts, a health center and a church,” Gatchalian said.

Also included in the site’s development plan are a fire station, a police community precinct, a mortuary, three day-care centers, two playgrounds, two parks and a materials recovery facility.