Ms. Ronadale Zapata
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VP NOLI CHECKS OUT CALAUAN NHA HOUSING PROJECT FOR RELOCATEES
14 November 2005

 

VICE President and concurrent Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chairman Noli ‘Kabayan’ De Castro recently visited a housing project of the National Housing Authority (NHA) in Calauan, Laguna for a possible relocation site for railway families affected by the Southrail project.

 

De Castro made the tour around the 58.86-hectare government property in Baranggay Dayap to find out if the site is fit for other railway families who still need to be relocated before the rail system improvement starts.

 

“This is part of government efforts to find other options in providing homes for the poor families who are going to be evicted from the railways to give way for national development,” De Castro said.

 

Accompanied by NHA general manager Frederico Laxa and HUDCC secretary general Lucille Ortille, De Castro inspected the site for water and power systems which would be crucial for the families if the government decides to use it as a resettlement area.

 

The Calauan housing project was actually initiated by former president Fidel V. Ramos and was finished during the term of his successor Joseph Estrada. Local NHA officials said informal settlers in San Juan, Manila were supposed to benefit from the project but the plan failed to materialize with Estrada’s ouster. The project was never used since then.

 

De Castro said the government is still unsure whether the government will finally use the project for the relocation program but considers it an important option like other idle government housing projects.

 

“Why should we buy properties for the relocates if there are available government housing projects around that would suit their needs,” he said. “These projects are indeed going to be helpful in the national effort to save funds,” he added.

 

 

Ref no. VPMEDIA 05-175