Balanga City builds relocation site for 1,000 informal dwellers

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – City Authorities have undertaken an initial phase of the site development project worth P12 million of the proposed government-owned land which would be used as relocation area for informal settlers situated in an upland section of Barangay Tenejero, this City.
Engineer Marilen Z. Alonzo, city assessor and member of the local housing board said the National Housing Authority (NHA) has earmarked another P 12 million outlay for the second phase of the site development purposely for the relocation of about 1,000 families of informal settlers currently residing along the Talisay riverbanks.
She explained that City Mayor Francis Anthony S. Garcia is eyeing to build 30 three-storey low rise structures in the relocation site in partnership with the government housing authorities for the safety of residents in the stretch of Talisay river and flood risk zones.
Mayor Garcia is reportedly negotiating with national housing officials and project property technology experts to finance the shelter accommodation scheme which may reach P 450 million including socio, health and educational facilities.
The City authorities headed by Mayor Garcia have described the proposed relocation site at the back of Bataan Heroes Memorial College, a privately-run educational institution, which is strategically located near the commercial, health and educational district of the City.
The City executive has cited Republic Act numbers 7160 and 7229, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 and the Urban Development Housing Act of 1992, respectively stipulate the mandate of local government units to provide the housing need of homeless constituents thus justifying the need to implement local housing programs.