Noy assures urban poor of safe, clean shelters

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino yesterday assured informal settlers living in danger zones in Metro Manila that the government will provide them with safe and clean shelters.

“Our efforts are focused on providing residents with safe homes, clean waterways and a long-term solution against flooding,” he said after inspecting the micro medium-rise building in Sampaloc, Manila.

Unlike the past administration, Aquino said his government offers long-term solutions and does not evict families living in shanties without relocation programs.

The President also inspected the Estero de San Miguel medium-rise building near Malacañang, a recently constructed model unit in accordance to the government’s on-site, near-city relocation plan.

He said the government is eyeing 167 informal settler families along Estero de San Miguel as beneficiaries of the housing program.

The government earlier set aside P10 billion to relocate urban poor families from danger zones.

Aquino said some 3,400 families have been moved to safer communities. – Delon Porcalla, Rainier Allan Ronda