Marcos: Study ongoing on possible housing projects in idle gov't lands

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Monday that his administration has been studying measures that will use idle government lands for housing projects.

"Patuloy nating pinag-aaralan kung paano isasagawa ang pagtukoy at paggamit sa mga bakanteng lupa ng gobyerno na maaaring tayuan ng mga pabahay, ayon sa ating mga batas at alituntunin," said Marcos. 

(We continue to study and determine the government's vacant lots so that houses could be built based on laws and regulations.)

In November of last year, Marcos bared that he would sign an executive order reserving state-owned lands that have remained idle for use of housing projects. He said the EO would "ensure flexibility in deciding which of these lands should be used for housing."

"Sa ngayon, patuloy namang nagsisikap ang ating pamahalaan upang mas marami pa tayong maipapatayo na mga pabahay para sa ating mga minamahal na kababayan,” added Marcos. 

(At present, the administration continues to exert efforts so that we can build more houses for Filipinos.)

Marcos made the statement during his speech at the groundbreaking of Disiplina Village Arkong Bato, which is a new housing site in Valenzuela City.

The Disiplina Village Arkong Bato will comprise 20 five-storey buildings, which aims to cater to 1,200 informal settler families. Phase 1 of this project, which consists of two five-storey low-rise buildings, has a projected cost of P160 million.

Marcos also led the ceremonial turnover of 1,380 housing units under the St. Gregory Homes Project in Malabon City.

There, he called for increased government and private sector collaboration in constructing decent and affordable shelters for the public, especially for those living in danger zones.

“Aking inaatasan muli ang NHA (National Housing Authority), DHSUD (Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development), at ang iba pang mga kaugnay na ahensya ng pamahalaan na magpatuloy sa masusing pagbibigay-lunas sa ating suliranin sa pabahay,” Marcos said.

(I have instructed the NHA and the DHSUD, as well as other government agencies, to continue to address the housing problems.)

The St. Gregory Homes Project is a resettlement site which consists of 23 five-story low-rise buildings with 1,380 residential units built through a partnership between the NHA and the Malabon local government unit.

The housing project will accommodate informal settler families residing along Malabon City’s waterways and danger zones, and those affected by the construction of Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) pumping stations.

The Presidential Communications Office said as of February 27, 720 units are ready for occupancy while around 400 families have already moved in. —VAL, GMA Integrated News