The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) announced on Tuesday the construction of another settlement project for informal settler families (ISFs) in the danger zones of Valenzuela City.

DSHUD Secretary Eduardo del Rosario and Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian graced the groundbreaking and capsule-laying ceremony on Monday for the Arkong Bato Disiplina Village, a housing project with three-story buildings that can accommodate 720 ISFs.

The project, to be undertaken in coordination with the National Housing Authority, Department of Budget and Management, and the city government, will also have a park where residents can spend leisure time.

Del Rosario cited the efforts of the city government’s rental housing program for the informal settlers.

“Si Mayor Rex ang nagsimula ng rental housing program dito sa (Mayor Rex has started the rental housing program here in) Valenzuela and that is the direction of DHSUD, most especially in urban areas dahil napakasikip na po ng ating mga siyudad (because our cities are already congested),” he said in his speech during the groundbreaking event.

Del Rosario said more are envisioned to reside in urban communities by 2050 “so there is no way but to go up in our residential units”.

Model project

The housing czar commended Valenzuela for keeping informal settlers out of danger.

“Sa aking paglilibot sa buong bansa, Visayas, Mindanao or anywhere in Luzon, kapag pinag-uusapan ang housing, ang aking model ay ang Disiplina Villages (When I visit nationwide, from the Visayas, Mindanao or anywhere else in Luzon, when we talk about housing projects, my model will always be the Disiplina Villages) of Valenzuela City,” del Rosario said.

Disiplina Village was the flagship in-city resettlement site and public rental housing project for Valenzuela’s ISF.

Currently, the Disiplina Village Bignay and Disiplina Vilage Ugong house 4,594 ISFs in 143 buildings.

Built like mini cities, the villages have City Hall annexes, daycare centers and schools, health stations; and activity centers.

The housing czar said the city government has been effective in promoting the rental housing project for the past years.

“Napakaganda po rito dahil ang rental housing program ay kapareha ng ginagawa sa (This is a good one because the rental housing project program is similar to what is being done in) Singapore. Kaya napakaganda (This is good) because of the estate management being provided by the city government. You have security, health services, and all issues can be resolved by the local government unit with the help of the) homeowners’ association,” del Rosario said.

The soon-to-rise Disiplina Village is the city’s fourth housing project, which features concrete roads, markings, and alleys, drainages, and sewer systems, as well as individual power and service connection.

It is targeted to relocate ISFs from the city’s riverbanks, those under the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ transmission lines, and those affected by government projects and natural disasters.

Connectivity

On the same day, del Rasario led the inauguration of the BALAI Net Project with Alpha-3 Technologies at the Disiplina Village in Barangay Bignay.

The joint program aims to provide faster, more affordable, and accessible Internet services to government housing programs nationwide.

Del Rosario said the BALAI Net projects, which cost 30 percent lower compared to the industry standard offered by other telecommunications companies, will benefit all residents of government settlement sites.

It will also help students enrolled in online classes amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

“One way of learning to live with Covid-19 is through connectivity. That will be provided by BALAI Net,” he added.

The BALAI Net program will also be introduced in other housing and settlement projects nationwide, in accordance with the DHSUD’s mandate to push for inclusive communities throughout the country. (PNA)