The two initial medium-rise buildings to be constructed in the Iloilo City Uswag Residential Complex in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro district here are expected to benefit around 700 informal settler families (ISF).

The project, which broke ground on Friday afternoon, will be part of the “Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino: Zero ISF Program for 2028” of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) in collaboration with the city government and the private sector.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, in his message during the groundbreaking ceremony, said this was a priority project of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to provide low-cost housing particularly to indigent Filipinos.

The funds for the project will come from the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) while the local government unit will provide the housing site and the developer will come from the private sector.

The city government is ready to partner with DHSUD for the project, said Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas in his message.

“Hopefully this partnership of the city together with DHSUD will come true if you are ready to do so. We are going to start with these initial two buildings. I am very happy that you are here this afternoon to start already the groundbreaking of these buildings,” he said.

Treñas added that he has already asked the lloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (ICUPAO) to start tagging families in danger zones, especially in Jaro, Batiano Rivers, and San Pedro.

He said around 3,000 families living in danger zones would be prioritized.

Acuzar, in a follow-up interview, said the city government would be the one to choose the beneficiaries of the program since they would manage the project once completed. (PNA)