By: Jaimie Rose R. Aberia
Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and Naic, Cavite Mayor Junio Dualan are set to sign a memorandum of agreement (MoA) for the “off-city” relocation of at least 700 informal settler families (ISFs) living along Manila’s danger zones.
Based on the MOA now being reviewed by the City Legal Office, Manila’s Urban Settlement Office Danny Isiderio said Naic, being the “receiving” LGU, has agreed to absorb 700 ISFs composed of about 3,500 individuals from Manila in exchange for a few concessions.
As the “sending” LGU, Manila will donate to Naic two brand new dump trucks worth around P3.4 million and a financial assistance of P2,000 per year, per family – or around P1.4 million a year – to the Cavite town. “We find this reasonable because we’re talking here of 700 families who will be receiving basic services from the host LGU,” Isiderio said.
Manila will be giving this “post-relocation assistance” to the municipal government of Naic until 2019 when the transferred ISFs, through government census, have become legitimate residents of the municipality, he added.
The city of Manila will also be shouldering the expenses of transporting the relocatees to Naic. On the other hand, the National Housing Authority (NHA) will fund the preparation of the relocation site.
The 700 ISFs set for relocation to Naic are those living along roadways, sidewalks, and under the bridges, specifically in Del Pan; San Miguel area near Malacañang; Muelle de la Industria near the Philippine Coast Guard headquarters in Port Area; R-12 NDC compound in Sta. Mesa near the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP); Piña Avenue, Sampaloc; and Panaderos Street in Sta. Ana.