By Christopher Hedreyda
SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, September 15 turned over more than 1,000 new homes to families displaced by the on-going construction of a railway project of the Philippine National Railways (PNR).
Located at St. Barts Southville Heights in Brgy. San Bartolome, San Pablo City, Laguna, the 1,099 house and lot units were allocated specifically for informal settler families affected by the ongoing construction of the PNR South Long Haul Project-Segment 2-7.
“Kahit maulap, napakaganda ng araw na ito dahil kasama ng pagbubukas ng pintuan ng mga bagong tahanan ay ang bagong pag-asa para mga napakaraming pamilya,” the President said.
“St. Barts…napaka-sosyal… kasi pala Barangay San Bartolome ito. Yung St. Barts, sikat na lugar yan eh. Pagagandahin natin ang lugar na ito kagaya ng St. Barts na kilala sa buong mundo,” the President told the crowd in jest.
President Marcos said housing projects awarded to Filipinos are decent, high-quality, and ensures a life with dignity under the government’s Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing Program (4PH).
“Ito po ang layunin natin: kasabay ng pagpapaunlad natin sa imprastraktura, ay ang pagginhawa ng buhay ng ating mga kababayan. Walang iniiwan. Walang isinasantabi. At walang pinapabayaan. Iyan ang prinsipyo ng ating Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing Program—pabahay na may dignidad.”
The housing project was implemented through the collaboration of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), National Housing Authority (NHA), and the local government of San Pablo City.
Now free from danger and given a fresh start for a progressive life, President Marcos Jr. expects that residents at St. Barts will protect the housing units and love their community.
“Magtulungan at pairalin ang malasakit sa bawat isa. Panatilihing malinis, ligtas, at maayos ang St. Barts. Patunayan ninyo na kayo ay ang mga Bagong Pilipino—Pilipinong disiplinado, mahusay, at may pagmamahal sa bayan.”
New homeowner Dante Alvarez, a senior citizen from Brgy. San Gabriel, San Pablo City, is thankful to the government as he now have a house he can call his own.
“Malaking tulong ito sa mga kagaya naming nangungupahan. Magkaroon man kami ng kontribusyon maliit lang, hindi gaya ng obligado kami monthly na magbayad. Maraming maraming salamat sa Pangulo ng Pilipinas. Kami dito na maliliit lang ay natutulungan.”
Meanwhile, Paulo Arogancia of San Antonio 2, San Pablo City, described living beside a railway as dangerous to their children.
“Delikado kasi yung mga bata sa tabing riles. Kapag busy yung mga magulang at naglalaro yung mga bata sa mga dumadaan na tren, syempre delikado yun. Nagpapasalamat kami na binigyan nya kami ng ganito, hindi na kami mahihirapan manirahan sa tabing riles at sa tingin ko ay ligtas dito.”
Each housing unit has a 40 square-meter lot area and a 27 square-meter floor area, with two bedrooms, a dining area, main kitchen, and a dirty kitchen.
The NHA said that beneficiaries will enjoy a six-month to one year grace period with no payment. After which, they will pay Php800 per month for the first five years, and whole amortization period will span 25 to 30 years, depending on the beneficiary’s financial capacity.
The St. Barts housing community will be equipped with facilities including elementary school, daycare center, multi-purpose covered court, market, health center, livelihood training center, transport terminal, material recovery facility, and community police station.
