ILOILO City – The city government seeks to finish the construction of housing units for 15,000 informal settler families (ISF) earlier than its target completion period of 10 years.
With the help of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), safe and decent homes could be turned over to informal settlers by 2028 or within the term of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., according to Mayor Jerry P. Treñas.
Yesterday, Treñas, representing the Iloilo City Government, inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with DHSUD represented by Undersecretary Roland Samuel T. Young and Engr. Noli D. Armada, OIC Vice President for Visayas and Mindanao – Housing Lending Operations of Pag-IBIG, for the initial 10,000 housing units for Iloilo City under DHSUD’s flagship program “Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino: Zero ISF Program for 2028” (4PH Program).
The 4PH Program is a government housing project in tandem with other key shelter agencies which aims to service the housing needs of the Philippines for over six million by 2028.
Of the initial housing units, the first to be constructed are the 1,260 units on a 2.2-hectare government-owned lot at the Uswag Residential Complex in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro district.
There will be 14 seven-storey buildings with a combined 1,260 units (at 90 units per building) complete with power and water lines, said DHSUD-Western Visayas officer-in-charge Eva Maria P. Marfil.
Beneficiaries include ISF residing in danger zones such as along the banks of the Batiano River, Jaro River and Dungon Creek as well as the recent fire victims in barangays San Juan and West Habog-habog in Molo district.
Meanwhile, Treñas said the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is set to confirm the MOA during today’s regular session. After this the city government will wait for unsolicited proposals from interested contractors.
“We will follow the PPP (public-private partnership) Ordinance of the City,” the mayor said.
The start of construction is targeted this year, and to be completed in two years.
Treñas also said that using a P200-million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines, the city government will be acquiring additional 13-hectare property in preparation for more housing projects for informal setters./PN
