30,000 houses for poor Cebuanos

CEBU CITY – Some 30,000 poor families here will benefit from the government’s “Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program” or 4PH after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the groundbreaking recently of his flagship project.

The South Coastal Urban Development Housing Project, Marcos said, is under the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DSHUD).

Marcos said it would be a big challenge for the DSHUD to build around a million housing units each year during his term of office.

“Sa tulong ng mga masisipag na kawani ng DHSUD, na pinangungunahan ni Secretary Jerry Acuzar, naniniwala akong kayang-kaya natin itong makamit sa ilalim ng aking panunungkulan. Kaya naman hinahamon ko ang DHSUD na manatili kayong matatag upang matupad ang ating pangakong mura at maayos na pabahay para sa mga kababayan nating nangangailangan,” he said.

Marcos said the project is an excellent example of the whole-of-government approach, with all sectors of society contributing for the betterment of the people.

“Kagaya nito, hindi magiging matagumpay ang programang ito kung hindi tayo nag-uugnayan at nagsasamahan at nagsasanib puwersa ng national at saka ng mga local government. Kaya’t ang lahat ng departamento na kailangan na makilahok doon sa lahat ng program, hindi lamang ang housing, hindi lamang ang mga LGU, kung hindi lahat. Kasama natin dyan ang House of Representatives, kasama natin ang mga senador, kasama natin siyempre ang ating private sector na tumutulong sa atin,” he said.

The initial phase of the project, comprising 10, 20-story buildings within the 25-hectare development site, is expected to benefit about 8,000 informal settler families (ISFs) and low income earners in the city. The entire South Coastal Urban Development Project is composed of three phases in different areas in Cebu City, covering a total of 60 hectares.

Under the 4PH project, Marcos said his administration starts with identifying and preparing the parcel of land where the housing units would be built.

“Ang proyektong ito at iba pang mga pabahay ng 4PH ay para sa mga minimum wage earners, informal settlers, mga nakatira sa danger zones, at sa mga kababayan nating naghahangad ng mura, simple, at komportableng bahay. Sisiguruhin din natin mananatiling abot-kaya ang buwanang hulog at bayad para sa mga bahay na ito kaya patuloy po ang ating pakikipag-ugnayan sa Kongreso upang maging matagumpay ang programang ito,” he said.

Aside from the housing units, Marcos said the government will also build other infrastructures in the area such as schools, markets, health centers and other business establishments to sustain the community. (Cebu Examiner)