TO ADDRESS the growing housing backlog in Davao City, the National Housing Authority (NHA) targets to develop a 22-hectare property in Barangay Lasang owned by the City Government to be a resettlement area, an official said.

NHA general manager Marcelino Escalada Jr. said in a press conference on Friday, October 5, in Tagum City that they’ve talked with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on the plan to develop an area in Lasang into resettlement for informal settlers and those who have no house.

“I met with Mayor Sara in Mandaue, we talked and I said that mas maayo atong idevelop napod ang Lasang [it is better to develop Lasang area] because Lasang is a property owned by the government and the mayor gladly agreed,” Escalada said.

He added that the mayor also suggested that the housing component shall be handled by the NHA while the land development will be handled by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB).

The area is located right after the bridge, on the left side where the landmark of artist Kublai can be seen. The area where there is a coconut plantation.

He said that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is currently developing a cross drainage for the expansion of open canal. There will also be back filling to elevate the land to prevent flooding.

Asked on what type of housing unit will be put up, he eyed that the housing topologies as well as designs of NHA will be put up there such as low rise building (LRB), row house, single detached, duplex, townhouse designs and community activities, and commercial communities.

“Right now, we are coordinating with HLURB from them to be able to undertake the land development project,” Escalada said.

Housing Backlog in Davao City is at 59,388 as of 2015.