President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday turned over housing units to 216 informal settler families in Balanga, Bataan affected by the cleanup and relocation operations in hazard-prone areas.

The relocated settlers used to live along the Talisay River.

The Balanga City Low-Rise Housing Project of the National Housing Authority (NHA), located in Barangay Tenejero, features six condominium-style buildings.

Each unit, measuring 27 square meters, is equipped with two bedrooms, a kitchen, toilet, bath, and fully operational water and power supplies.

In his message, Marcos said the project is part of the government’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) program, which aims to address the six million housing backlog by 2028.

“Sa loob ng maraming taon, humarap kayo sa peligrong dala ng pagtira sa tabi ng ilog. Kaya narito tayo upang bigyan ng lunas ang kanilang suliranin (For years, you faced the dangers of living by the river. So, we are here to give a solution to their problem),” Marcos said in his speech.

“Kayo ngayon ay maninirahan sa sariling bahay na ligtas, de-kalidad, at komportable. Ngayon pa lamang po ay binabati ko na ang ating mga benepisyaryo ng congratulation sa pagsisimula ng panibagong yugto ng inyong buhay (You can now live in your own house that is safe and comfortable. As early as now, I am extending my congratulations to our beneficiaries for starting this new phase of your life)!” he added.

The President also assured that the government remains committed to building more safe, quality, and comfortable housing units.

The NHA also plans to build basic facilities in the housing community, such as a four-story school building with 20 classrooms, a multi-purpose building, and a covered basketball court.

A community center building has also been constructed within the housing project to ensure that beneficiaries will have access to basic commodities, educational facilities and other community needs.

It houses a health center, daycare center, barangay learning hub, offices of the homeowners’ association and a local government unit housing satellite office. (PNA)