QC eyes low-cost abodes for homeless city dwellers

The Quezon City government has a program to provide decent low-cost housing for squatter families already living in the city but the city government stands with its policy to discourage the entry of more squatters.

Once the City Council approves the Housing and Urban Renewal Authority proposal, the city government will implement the program to provide decent low-cost housing for squatter families, which according to a recent census was pegged at 158,947 households and growing everyday, using the most cost-effective technologies and construction materials, as well as efficient space-management. The Quezon City Legal Department is still reviewing the proposal.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte said it is the policy of his administration to discourage the entry of squatters in Quezon City because they have been used as political pawns in the election numbers game.

"For those indigents who already live in the city but cannot afford a home, we in government shall help them acquire their homes," Belmonte said.

The city government’s policy is focused on providing dwelling units instead of merely awarding land titles, because the indigents do not have the means to construct a decent dwelling on the land awarded to them.

Under the proposal, medium-rise buildings will be constructed to house the most for the least cost and on the least space of land, Belmonte said.

The present administration of the city continues to honor the commitments made to squatters during previous administrations.

"Virtually all of these projects are completed to date. Our objective is to immediately see the actual distribution of transfer certificates of titles (TCTs) to the awardees," the mayor said.