NHA sets dialogues with informal settlers

MANILA, Philippines - To prevent anymore violence in the eviction of squatter families like what happened at North Triangle in Quezon City, the National Housing Authority (NHA) is conducting consultations with affected informal settlers to convince them to avail of the government’s relocation program.

“We do not want to experience again what happened before where people were hurt and it caused a huge traffic along EDSA, that is why we are conducting social preparations to convince a certain group in the North Triangle area to avail of the relocation project,” NHA general manager Chito Cruz said.

He assured the affected families that the relocation site in Montalban has water and electric facilities.

 “I actually inspected the site in Montalban two weeks ago. I made sure that the water and electric facilities are complete. In fact, we are giving them options as we have also offered the relocation site in Gayagaya, San Jose Del Monte Bulacan,” Cruz said.

He said the NHA is also putting up schools, livelihood areas and clinics, as well as multipurpose centers that the relocatees can use to enable them to adapt in the community.

“There is really a resistance in one of the groups in the said area, as they want an on-site development. They want us to give them the North Triangle land and they would put up their houses there,” he said.

He said the Quezon City Business District project, to be developed in the land which the informal settlers are occupying, is supposed to start by end of the month.

“We actually have a closing date by end of August, but we have already talked with Ayala Land, and they are willing to slide down a bit. But at the end of the day, there is a contractual commitment and we believe in the project, we really need to move the families from the site,” Cruz said.