A VAST marshland in Barangay Bebe Anac in Masantol town is slowly being transformed into a small village that will soon house hundreds of Kapampangan families currently residing along the coast.

The National Housing Authority (NHA) and the local government are building hundreds of houses to relocate families currently at risk from flash floods and water surges during the rainy season.

Mayor Danilo Guintu said the NHA has started constructing 950 houses and various government facilities and recreational areas within the six-hectare lot along the Pampanga River dike.

The beneficiaries would be families residing along the riverbanks of Sapang Maragul in the northeastern part of Masantol, which will be affected by the major flood control project to be undertaken by Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corporation, Guintu disclosed.

“We are foreseeing at least 500 families from barangays Sta. Cruz, Cambasi, Bebe Anac, Sua and Palimpe who will be affected in the widening of Sapang Maragul. We already partnered with the NHA to provide a decent and safe housing for those that will be relocated,” said Guintu.

Residents of the coastal villages of Macabebe town affected by the implementation of the Supreme Court mandamus ordering the clearing of Pampanga River from any obstruction will also be relocated to the said site.

The project, dubbed “Golden Residences Masantol,” will also include school buildings, health centers, livelihood training centers, mini market, a covered court, park with playground and concrete road pavements.

The project is expected to be completed in 2019 in time for the full implementation of the widening of Sapang Maragul, a tributary of the Pampanga’s Third River channel which would stretch up to Sto. Tomas town.

“Our goal is to provide a win-win program for our constituents. In this case, we will be solving our perennial problem in flooding without disadvantaging any of our constituents,” Guintu said.