Families living beside train tracks begin packing up

Families residing along the Philippine National Railways’ (PNR) tracks in Pandacan, Manila started voluntarily relocating to their new homes in Trece Martires, Cavite after the government recently resumed clearing operations of some 4,000 squatter families affected by the Southline of the Rail Linkage Project.

Vice President Noli de Castro, who chairs the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), thanked the voluntary relocatees and Barangay Captain Arturo dela Cruz of Barangay 865 for their cooperation and support that resulted in a peaceful relocation. He assured the families that government is preparing the needed community and livelihood services in the relocation site.

The Pandacan-Sta. Mesa segment of Southline involves the relocation of a total of 3,830 families prior to the modernization of the railway, one of the Arroyo administration’s major infrastructure projects. Clearing operations cover seven barangays in Pandacan, which have 1,441 families, and another seven barangays in Sta. Mesa, which consist of 2,389 families.

After five days of clearing operations, a total of 110 families have, so far, been relocated to Cavite while eight families availed themselves of the Balik-Probinsiya option, under which they will be given assistance to start life anew in their home provinces.

According to National Housing Authority general manager Federico Laxa, the clearing of the Pandacan-Sta. Mesa track section is expected to be completed by the end of March.