NHA surveys 4 waterfront brgys
National Housing Authority (NHA) Regional Manager Isagani Jalbuena assured they will exercise “maximum retention and minimum displacement” as they develop the areas in barangays Veterans Village, Sto. Rosario-Duran, Concepcion and General Hughes pursuant to Presidential Proclamations, 579, 580 and 659.
NHA recently conducted a survey on the area being occupied by some 1,000 families.
The land area covered the presidential proclamations in Veterans Village and Sto. Rosario-Duran totaled to 40,230 square meters and 55,155 for Concepcion and Hughes. The properties were then owned by the national government.
With the approval of the three presidential proclamations in 2004 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the property was declared as relocation site of settlers who had been occupying the land since 1980. Most of the occupants are policemen and soldiers because of its proximity to Camp Delgado.
Jalbuena said they will do a “re-blocking” or a subdivision plan to determine actual boundaries in the four barangays before they can institute any improvements in the site. There should be a minimum standard for the road access not only for passage but also for emergencies like fire.
The re-blocking will likewise determine the land area for each occupant. The income of the recipient families will also be checked. This is to determine their paying capacity. The area will not be given as dole-outs to the recipient families. The land is payable in 25 years.
The policy of “maximum retention and minimum displacement” is the housing authority's strategy to give the recipients a maximum area to occupy and same time avoid displacement of families and structures in area needed for the road right of way.
As their counterpart during the survey stage, the NHA asked the families to assist them while they conduct a re-blocking of the four barangays.