Vice President Jejomar C. Binay said 72 informal settler families (ISFs) who used to live along Tullahan river can now move to their new homes in Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela City while another 180 families are only waiting for the completion of their applications for Meralco connection.
“Dahil sa proyektong ito, maraming pamilya ang nabago ang buhay. Ayon sa kanila, bagama’t nagbabayad sila ng tatlong daang piso kada buwan dito sa Disiplina Village, walang katumbas ang kapayapaan na kanilang nararamdaman dahil sa hindi na sila nangangamba na mawalan ng bahay at buhay kapag panahon ng tag-ulan,” Binay said.
Binay said the turnover of the 252 units is part of the five-year near-city or in-city relocation program of the government under the P50-billion PNoy Housing Fund.
He added that these housing units are components of the 17 three-storey buildings that will be completed in August of this year and will generate a total of 540 units with floor area of 27 square meters, inclusive of 11 square meters loftable area.
"Makalipas ang isang taon at siyam na buwan, narito na ang ating pinaghirapan. Walong gusali na ang naitayo para sa mga taga-Valenzuela sa pamamahala ng inyong local government. At mayroon pang siyam na gusaling itatayo dito sa Barangay Ugong sa ilalim ng nasabing Memorandum of Agreement," Binay said.
The National Housing Agency (NHA) funded and implemented the construction of the project, while the City of Valenzuela provided the property and undertook the implementation of the land development component.
The site where these low-rise buildings are constructed is complete with water and power supply systems provided by Maynilad and MERALCO, sewerage treatment plant (controlled collection), concrete paved roads, drainage system, and streetlights along the main road.
“I congratulate all of you who made this endeavor possible. I assure you that the NHA will continuously fulfill its thrust to provide all Filipino families with safe and decent homes in the months to come,” Binay said.
Aside from the turnover ceremony, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing for Disiplina Village Bignay was also held to start the construction of 90 three-storey low rise buildings that will generate 3,200 housing units for families who are also living along the Tullahan River.
Present during the event that coincided with the celebration of the Valenzuela City Day were Valenzuela City Mayor Rexlon T. Gatchalian, Congressman Sherwin T. Gatchalian of the 1st District of Valenzuela, Congressman Wes Gatchalian of Alay Buhay partylist, Vice Mayor Eric M. Martinez, Undersecretary Cecilia S. Alba of HUDCC, Ms. Ana R. Oliveros of the Socialized Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), other LGU and government agency officials from Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), and homeowners.