THE Zamboanga City Government, through the City Housing and Land Management Division (CHLMD), is drafting a 10-year shelter plan to address the problem on informal settlers in this city.
CHLMD chief Rodrigo Pagotaisidro said the shelter plan will address the housing backlog, which is pegged at 19,000 within the seven-kilometer radius of this city.
He said these 19,000 families have their respective houses but do not own the lot where they are staying.
Pagotaisidro said the shelter plan includes provisions on land banking program, community mortgage program, land tenurial assistance program, and joint venture agreement.
He said through the land banking program, the city government will purchase the land and will be transformed into socialized housing or resettlement projects.
The city government will tap the assistance of non-government organizations like the Habitat for Humanity, Gawad Kalinga and International Organizations to provide shelters for families living below the poverty threshold, he added.
Pagotaisidro said the shelter plan will enable the city to have proper direction in terms of housing program. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)