Estrada-Roxas pact eyes new homes for Manila’s poor

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Manila officials have signed an agreement on the construction of housing projects in the city for informal settlers.

The houses to be built in Baseco and De Dios in Manila will benefit 585 urban poor families.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada signed the agreement on Thursday to cap this year’s celebration of Urban Poor Solidarity Week.

The money to be used for site development and construction will come from the trust fund earlier set aside by the DILG for its socialized housing program for Metro slum dwellers.

5 cities to benefit

The trust fund for socialized housing worth P334.5 million will be shared by the cities of Malabon, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Caloocan, Navotas and Manila.

“We are here to provide sturdy and safe houses for all those living in danger areas,” Roxas said in a statement on Thursday.

Also present during the signing were Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Ronald Llamas and Philippine Commission for the Urban Poor Chair Hernani Panganiban.

Roxas said the seed fund for Manila was the result of the cooperation among the local government, the DILG and people’s organizations such as Karangalan and Ugnayang Lakas ng Apektadong Pamilya sa Baybayin ng Ilog Pasig of Manila.