Houses for 79 river families in Molo ready before December

THE National Housing Authority (NHA) has assured that 79 families living along the Iloilo River near the old slaughterhouse in South San Jose, Molo district will be prioritized for transfer to their new homes before the end of December this year.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said that as soon as the river area is vacated by the informal settlers, dredging operations by the new Water Master dredging machine of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will be fielded so as to complete the river clean-up, restoration and rehabilitation works along the River Esplanade.

NHA Regional Director Isagani Jalbuena reported to the Iloilo River Development Council chaired by Mabilog that the houses will be completed in two months time after P51 million money requirement is downloaded to the City Government for Phase II housing development in Barangay Sooc, Arevalo district.

Mabilog said the informal settlers at Molo slaughterhouse wished to transfer at Sooc for reason of proximity of the relocation site to their original residence and employment.

Jalbuena said the construction of the initial batch of houses for the informal settlers is slated for completion of 100 units by December, 100 units by January 2913, 100 units by February 2013, and 100 units by March 2013.

The relocation of beneficiaries is slated by January, February, March and April 2013 at 100 houses per month.

More than 3,000 informal settler families living along the river banks, creeks and other danger zones are slated for relocation at the City Government relocation sites in Camalig, Lanit and Sooc relocation sites.

A total of P244 million covering the NHA funding of P100 million, City Government counterpart of P44 million and P100 million from President Benigno Aquino III is being used for the construction of houses for informal settlers in Phase I relocation site in Lanit, Jaro and Phase II in Sooc, Arevalo.

The Department of Social |Welfare and Development is also constructing another 1,000 houses for the city informal settlers with a funding of P100 million from its core shelter program. (LCP)