Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) executive director Jose Antonio “Ka Pepeton” Goitia said that the National Housing Authority’s decision to give more than 3,500 housing units to informal settler families living along esteros, lake and other riverways that traverses the Pasig River will generally save thousands of lives.
Goitia directed operations director Gregorio Garcia and Easement Recovery, Housing and Resettlement Head Ryan Monceda to coordinate with NHA-National Capitol Region group manager Victor Balba, NHA division manager Mae Vicente and NHA west sector manager Rosalinda Nartates.
“We express our deep gratitude to NHA officials for their decision to give 3,500 units to all ISFs that we will relocate from the identified hazardous zones to the government housing projects so they would be safe from any calamity that would struck like earthquake and flood,” Goitia said.
“Aside from this, if we could relocate the families living near the esteros, lake and other river ways that is connected to Pasig River, we are sure that the garbage and thrash that pollute the Pasig River will decrease a lot.”
Goitia said the relocation of the ISFs will be of great advantage in their plans of building and developing environmental preservation areas in the form of linear parks, greenbelts, and walkways on riverside that will generate livelihood to many Filipinos.
“It is PRRC’s vision and mission to improve the quality of the water in Pasig River to Class C so it is a wise decision to relocate the families living there especially near the esteros,” Goitia stated. “Again, we thank NHA in allocating 3,500 units that will serve as relocation housing units for the families when PRRC finally starts clearing their houses.”
“Thousands of lives would be saved if the ISFs are relocated to the government’s housing project and this also means that liquid and other solid waste thrown to Pasig River will decrease,” Goitia added. We are sure that the quality of the water would generally improve if our project is continuous in relocating all the families staking their lives by living near the esteros. Many Filipinos too will be given job opportunities from the future establishments and linear parks and walkways that will be built on the site once occupied by the ISFs.