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| Photo from PCO |
MANILA (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the ceremonial turnover of 333 housing unit certificates to beneficiaries of Disiplina Village Arkong Bato in Valenzuela City on Tuesday, Sept. 15, advancing the administration’s commitment to provide safe, affordable and decent homes for Filipino families.
The project is part of the government’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, spearheaded by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), with the National Housing Authority (NHA) as a key shelter agency.
The housing initiative seeks to relocate informal settler families from high-risk communities, including areas prone to flooding near the Tullahan River, while helping address the country’s housing gap.
Safer homes for vulnerable families
During the ceremony, Marcos emphasized the importance of providing families living in danger zones with safer communities where they can protect their loved ones from flooding and other hazards.
“Hindi naman kaila na isa sa mga problema na kinakaharap natin ngayon ay ang sunod-sunod na pag-ulan at ang pagbaha,” the President said.
“Sa tuwing may ganitong panganib, tahanan ang una nating inaasahang masisilungan. Dito dapat ligtas ang ating mga anak. Dito dapat tayo nakakapagpahinga nang walang pangamba,” he added.
The President said families living in danger zones should be given the opportunity to move to safer communities.
“Kaya mahalagang mabigyan natin ang mga pamilyang ito ng pagkakataong makalipat sa isang komunidad na mas ligtas para sa kanilang mga pamilya,” Marcos said.
Disiplina Village Arkong Bato is designed to provide 960 housing units for qualified informal settler families affected by the Supreme Court’s mandamus to clear Manila Bay and those residing in dangerous areas in Valenzuela City.
The project consists of five phases. Nine buildings have been completed under Phases 1, 2 and 3, comprising 333 units, with beneficiary relocation beginning in April 2026.
Affordable housing, accessible services
Marcos also highlighted the community’s proximity to schools and health care facilities, which will help make essential services more accessible to residents.
“Mas madali para sa mga bata ang makapag-aral at para sa mga pamilya na masiguro ang kanilang mga kalusugan,” he said.
Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie Ting Gatchalian thanked the President and the national government for supporting the city’s housing program, which will provide families with rental homes for as little as P800 per month.
“Malaking bagay ang pagtutulungan. Hindi kakayanin ng lokal na pamahalaan ito. Kaya, malaking pasasalamat ko kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos,” Gatchalian said.
The city government provided the land, while the NHA supported the construction of the buildings. Marcos led the project’s groundbreaking in 2023.
The mayor said the project is expected to benefit nearly 1,000 families upon completion, including those who previously lived along waterways, in public areas, or were displaced by fires.
The succeeding phases will include a covered court, livelihood center, daycare center, health center and other community facilities.
Government housing efforts
Marcos reported that nearly 600,000 housing units had been completed from July 2022 to July 2026 under various government housing programs.
These include the Expanded 4PH Program, with support from the NHA, Social Housing Finance Corporation, Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) and National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation.
The President said the government remains committed to addressing the country’s housing gap through cooperation among national and local governments, communities and private-sector partners.
“Sa ilalim ng Bagong Pilipinas, ating tinitiyak na ang pag-unlad ay nararamdaman sa pang-araw-araw na buhay ng ating mga kababayan,” Marcos said.
“At nagsisimula iyon sa pagkakaroon ng isang tahanang ligtas, matibay, at matatawag ninyong inyo,” he added.
He congratulated the beneficiaries and called on them to work together in maintaining their new community.
“Muli, congratulations po sa inyong lahat. Welcome home,” Marcos said.
Also present during the ceremony were DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling, NHA General Manager Joeben Tai, Valenzuela First District Representative Kenneth Gatchalian, Valenzuela Second District Representative Gerald Galang, Mayor Gatchalian and other government officials. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
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