Caloocan squatters to get relocation

At least 636 squatter families along the railways in Caloocan City are set to lose their houses when the Philippine National Railways (PNR) starts its right of way clearing in November.

This developed after the city government, the PNR and the North Luzon Railways Corp. and other concerned government agencies signed a memorandum of cooperation over the weekend which paved the way for the railways’ rehabilitation.

Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo said he acceeded to the MOC signing after the NLRC assured him that residents affected by the program will be given an affordable and accessible relocation site equipped with adequate facilities.

"The city government has been working out with the NLRC to make sure that affected residents will not be displaced by their program," Malonzo said.

Malonzo noted that the Northrail Project only covers temporary settlers in Barangays 80, Uno and Dos while those in 10th Avenue and Maypajo will not be affected at all.

Hernani Panganiban, NLRC’s consultant on community organizing and social reform, said that the affected residents are "lucky enough" for they will benefit from the Northrail relocation program.

Qualified beneficiaries, Panganiban said, will be relocated at the NLRC’s housing project in Harmony I and II Subdivision, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan.

Aside from the P93,000 subsidy for each housing unit, the NLRC will also provide free electrical and water installations plus two-week food supply to the relocated families, he added.

To assure a peaceful and orderly demolition and transfer, the NLRC also tapped the assistance of the Philippine National Police, the Commission on Human Rights, Departments of the Interior and Local Government, Education, Presidential Commission on Urban Poor and National Housing Authority.–Pete Laude