By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
In a media release on Sunday, April 20, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar has ordered the fast-tracking of the agency’s projects in the National Capital Region (NCR) under the flagship Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“Habang nagte-turn over na tayo sa mga natatapos na 4PH buildings, tuloy-tuloy naman po ang construction ng iba pang projects. Kaya, masasabi natin na buo na po ang formula, may malinaw na tayo na proofs of concept ng 4PH–iyang mga natatapos at nate-turn over na housing units,” Secretary Acuzar said.
“Dito sa NCR, may mga nasimulan na rin tayo na mga 4PH projects. Tututukan po natin ‘yan upang mapabilis dahil dito may pinakamaraming informal settler families (ISFs). Sila po ang priority natin dito,” the housing czar added, emphasizing the rationale behind his call to expedite construction of housing projects in NCR.
Secretary Acuzar envisions 4PH projects in NCR as a key step towards transforming ISF areas into sustainable township developments, with housing units being built in Caloocan City, Quezon City, San Juan City, and the City of Manila.
In Pasay City, DHSUD has already established a staging area that will temporarily shelter ISFs that will eventually benefit from the 4PH project in the area.
Other LGUs in the capital region have already signed memoranda of understanding with DHSUD expressing intent to join 4PH, including the cities of Pasig, Muntinlupa, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Navotas, Paranaque, Valenzuela and Malabon.
Meanwhile, the turnover of actual housing units under the 4PH program has already started in the cities of Palayan in Nueva Ecija and Bacolod in Negros Oriental.
Preparations for the turnover of 4PH projects in San Mateo, Rizal, San Fernando City, Pampanga, Davao City, and Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental to their respective beneficiaries are also underway.
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