Office of the Vice President : Press Release

Expressing satisfaction in the resettlement of families in Valenzuela City affected by the Northrail Project, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday lauded all those who contributed in its success namely the Valenzuela city government, the relocatees and Vice President Noli ‘Kabayan’ De Castro, concurrent chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).

Speaking during a Pulong Bayan held at the Kasarival relocation site in Barangay Bignay, Valenzuela City, President Arroyo said the resettlement project, as supervised by De Castro together with the key shelter agencies and Valenzuela city government, was a job well done and thanked them for their efforts.

The project, an in-city resettlement site with a total land area of about 7.75 hectares, was developed for members of the Kapitbahayan sa Riles ng Valenzuela or Kasarival, a federation of 11 local organizations of relocatees from the railways of Malanday, Veinte Reales, Karuhatan, Marulas, and Dalandanan, Valenzuela City.

It was endorsed by the city government of Valenzuela and by the families affected by the Northrail project. Site development is being undertaken by the Armed Forces of the Phils. 51st Engineering Brigade.

Today, some 1,019 families have been relocated in the site.

Vice President De Castro emphasized that the project underscores the present administration’s vision to promote economic progress through the provision of an efficient rail system while at the same time ensuring that the affected families are provided with decent resettlement sites.

“The President wants the immediate construction of the northrail and southrail projects which are envisioned to enhance and accelerate the development and growth potential of the Central and Southern Luzon areas. However, she wants us to ensure smooth and humane relocation of the affected families. And the Kasarival resettlement project is exactly what the President desired for the relocatees,” De Castro said.

During the Pulong Bayan, President Arroyo and Vice President De Castro discussed with the beneficiaries issues and concerns related to the provision of basic services such as water supply, classrooms for schoolchildren, payment schemes and the improvement of facilities therein.

President Arroyo also distributed individual lease agreements with option to purchase to the respective presidents of the 11 local organizations affiliated with Kasarival federation led by its president Adelo Flores.

President Arroyo inaugurated and unveiled the project marker of the Kasarival resettlement project, accompanied by Vice President De Castro and other government officials.

Also present in the affair were National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Federico Laxa, National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC) Chairman Celso delos Angeles, HUDCC Secretary General Lucille Ortille and Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian and other local officials.