More than 500 informal settler families relocated: PRRC

In a press conference Tuesday, newly appointed Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) Executive Director, Jose Antonio Goitia said PRRC has secured 3,500 housing units in six different sites in Bulacan, Rizal, and Cavite where the informal settlers were relocated. (PNA Photo)

MANILA, Aug 2 (PNA) — Some 545 informal settler families (ISFs) along Pasig River have been relocated in the first six months this year.

In a press conference Tuesday, newly appointed Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) Executive Director, Jose Antonio Goitia said PRRC has secured 3,500 housing units in six different sites in Bulacan, Rizal, and Cavite where the informal settlers were relocated.

“We plan to relocate 1,091 more ISFs in the remaining months of the year. These families are now undergoing pre-qualifications,” Goitia said.

The relocation sites are in Katuparan Village, Norzagaray Homes, and Norzagaray Heights in Norzagaray, Bulacan; Sta. Martha Homes in Morong, Rizal; Padre Pio, Pandi, Bulacan; Low Rise Building in Camarin and Tala Caloocan City; and Southville Village in Barangay Caboco, Trece Martires, Cavite.

Last July, Goitia said the PRRC has relocated 176 ISFs (144 from Manila, 31 from Quezon City, and one from Mandaluyong).

With the relocation, PRRC is able to construct and develop longer and wider environmental preservation areas which include linear parks, greenbelts, and walkways along the Pasig River.

“It also meant we can save more Filipinos from the dangers of living in shanties and makeshift houses on top of the river which, in the long term, could help improve water quality through the reduction of untreated solid and liquid wastes dumped by the ISFs,” he said.

He added that the families were provided with PHP18,000 financial assistance and free transfer to their new homes.