Vice President and housing czar Jejomar C. Binay declared that 4,800 housing units are now ready for occupancy for the resettlement of informal settler families living in danger areas in waterways in Metro Manila.

            The ISFs will be moved on Monday to the National Housing Authority’s (NHA) resettlement sites in Trece Martirez in Cavite and in San Jose del Monte, Bocaue, Norzagaray and Pandi in Bulacan.

            "Informal settler families (ISFs) can now sleep tight in their new homes even during harsh weather," the housing czar said.

            The initial batch of 80 ISFs living along the San Juan River will be relocated next week at the San Jose Heights in San Jose del Monte (SJDM), Bulacan, one of the government’s resettlement sites under the ISF Housing Program.

            “These families will now have peace of mind knowing that their new homes will be safe from being swept away by flash floods. At the same time, they will have security of housing tenure,” Binay said.

            According to the housing czar, the resettlement site is complete with basic facilities such as water and electricity, health center and a school, among others.

            "The government is intent on upgrading our resettlement areas so that ISFs can truly have a chance at rebuilding their lives," said Binay.

            The seven kilometer San Juan River traverses San Juan City, Mandaluyong and Quezon City. Eight barangays in San Juan City, namely, Salapan, Balong Bato, Rivera, Progreso, Batis, Kabayanan, Maytunas, and Ermitaño, will be cleared of about 600 ISFs whose makeshift dwellings are located within the river’s three-meter easement.

            “Inaasahan natin na sa loob ng buwang ito, matatapos na ang clearing operations sa San Juan River at mas mapapadali ito kung kusang magpapa-relocate ang lahat ng pamilya na maaapektuhan nito,” Binay said. Binay also sits as Chairman of the NHA Board.

            Based on the data provided by NHA, Metro Manila has 104,219 ISFs living in danger areas and about 60,130 of them occupy major waterways.

            Under President Aquino’s directive, the government launched in 2011 a five-year-P50 billion housing program for ISFs living in danger areas in Metro Manila, particularly along waterways.

            Aside from the 4,800 housing units now ready for occupancy, an additional 4,200 units will also be completed by December 2013.