Informal settlers at PNR property in San Pablo up for relocation

SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna -- Informal settlers who have “encroached’ the Philippine National Railways (PNR) core property and danger zone will soon be moved out of harm’s way to better, safer relocation sites in this city.

San Pablo City Mayor Loreto S. Amante, who is also chairman of the city local Inter-Agency Committee (LIAC), told Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Thursday that the LIAC is currently conducting dialogues and consultations with the informal settlers for their gradual relocation.

Amante said the committee is drawing up plan for the relocation site of the settlers occupying within close range to the railroad track to pave the way for the national government project to repair and rehabilitate the Manila South Line up to the Bicol Region.

He said the LIAC with representatives from the PNR and the National Housing Authority (NHA) is in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 7279, or the “Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992,” which “provides for a Comprehensive and Continuing Urban Development and Housing Program and establishes the mechanism for its implementation, and for other purposes.”

He said that the city’s plan, in sync with PNR and the NHA guidelines, would provide decent housing site for the underprivileged and homeless residents who would be displaced due to the railway project.

According to the survey conducted by the PNR and NHA, around 5,000 informal settler-families are occupying along the stretch of the PNR railway in the San Pablo City section.

“The informal settlement covers an area from Barangay San Crispin to Barangay San Antonio 2,” said Emilio I. Tirones, chief of the City Urban Development and Housing Office (CUDHO).

Tirones said that the resettlement project would be implemented through the “Pabahay Build Build Build” Program under the Philippine Development Plan ‎2017-2022.”

He said the PNR and NHA representatives in the local inter-agency committee could ensure that the relocation and resettlement plan is attuned to the national agencies’ mandates.

The national government’s Manila South Line railway project which would revive the “Bicol Express” is expected to benefit this city and Calabarzon provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon for cost effective and efficient train transport for passengers and cargo.

The rehabilitation of the Manila South Rail would also ease travel of the commuters and cargo to their connecting road links to the international port in Batangas City and the ports in Lucena City and Quezon province’s eastern towns. (Ruben E. Taningco/PNA)