2,3k fnmilies'to get socinlized housing in Tondo

At least 2300 informal settl€r families

in Tondo, Manila will soon have their
own houses after the House of Repre;
sentatives opted to exercise its oversight
powers, officials said yesterday.
District 1 Rep. Manny Lopez, who
pushed for the in-city relocation of the
families in his district, insisted that the
signing o{ the memorandum of under-
standing (MOU) be held in Parola so
the beneficiaries of socialized housing
units may wilness the government at
work.
"Finally, the hard work of Congress is
becoming reality and can truly be felt by
our countrymen who are most in need.
They will now have their own home
built on land and not over water. This is
clear evidence of government working Speaker Gloria MacapagaFArroyo (third lrom left) leads the signing ol a memoran-
dum ol understanding lorthe socialized housing of2,300 informalsettler lamilies in
for the people," he said. lsla Puting Bato in Tondo, Manila yesterday. With her are (from left) Philippine Ports
Negros Occidental Rep. Albee Authority general manager Jay Santiago, Beps, Albee Benitez and Manny Lopez,
Benitez, who heads the House commit- Mayor Joseph Estrada, Sen. Cynthia Villar and lnternaiional Container Terminal
tee on housing and urban development, Services lnc. senior vice itresident Christian Gonzalez.
said five-story buildings will
be built
on five hectares of land at Isla Puting local officials to address the delays Container Terminal Services Inc.
Bato donaled by the Philippine Ports in the release of titles to recipients of Transportation Secretary Arthur
Authority (PPA) to the National Hous- social housing proclamations she is- Tugade assured the families that the
ing Authority. sued in 2002 and 2004 when 3he was buildings will be completed quickly.
The informal settlers will only pay president. Manila Mayor Joseph Estra d a
P600 per month for the next 25 years for She also asked the PPA to ensure thanked Arroyo for spearheading the.
their units, he added. that the informal settlers would not be projec! saying she is :'God-sent."
Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo deprived of their sources of livelihood. Isla Puting Bato barangay captain
had called on the oversight cominittee An initial Pl billion was allocated {or Bryan Mondejar said the residents have
on housing after she expressed fears the the construction of the low-rise build- been worried about being informal set-
families in slum areas may be displaced ings in Isla Puting Bato. tlers. but because of Arrovo "thev were
-The
by the ongoing cleanup of Manila Bay. PPA will assist in the project with assrrred that thei would have decent
Arroyo wanted the government and the help of port operator Intemational housing." ' - Delon Porcalla

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