30 August 2009
mmda-logoThe Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will utilize biometrics system to ensure that only qualified informal settlers will get housing and relocation assistance from the government.
“We just want to make sure that no bogus person will infiltrate the program so we decided to resort to biometrics,” MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said.
He said the MMDA is being supported by Philhealth in the provision of a cheap yet reliable biometrics for the registration and pre-qualification of priority families for government assistance.
“We were using biometrics data… to discourage them [from selling] the property awarded to them,” Fernando said.
Earlier, the Metro Manila Inter-Agency Committee on Informal Settlers (MMIAC), concurrently chaired by Fernando, said more than 5,000 squatter families in the metropolis would be the first beneficiaries of the relocation and housing program.
The MMIAC, the body tasked with overseeing the relocation and housing program for informal settlers, also listed down priority areas for the implementation of the Comprehensive Shelter Program (CSP), which were pre-identified by the MMDA and the NHA.
Among its member-agencies aside from MMDA are the National Housing Authority (NHA), Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Office of the President-External Affairs, and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Among the priority areas for the program are Damayang Lagi, 11th Street and Sta. Cruz along San Juan River in Quezon City, Barangays 177, 135, 178, 179, 180, 181 and 182 which cover Estero de Tripa De Galina in Pasay City and Old Balara (West and East Side) in Commonwealth Avenue and Masambong and Manresa on Araneta Avenue, also in Quezon City.
There are a total of 3,290 families living in these identified areas, according to Fernando.
“We have identified these areas because they are all located along waterways, which are danger zones. Qualified informal settlers here will be given housing benefits based on the CSP guidelines,” he said.
The NHA likewise submitted 11 priority areas for relocation.
These are Buting, Pasig; Santolan, Mindanao Avenue, Balintawak, Quiapo, Nissan Tatalon, Pasay, Estero de Paco, R-10 Navotas, Market 3 Fishport of Navotas and Sta. Cruz.
About 2,164 families live in these communities.
An initial funding amounting to P300 million would be utilized for the program (P200 million for socialized housing and P100 million for the relocation sites).
The MMDA chief said the committee, in providing housing to qualified beneficiaries, is looking into three types of relocation: “off-site relocation”, the transfer of an informal settler to another area of settlement; “on-site development”, the direct purchase of the lot occupied by the informal settlers for purposes of upgrading; and the development of medium-rise buildings such as those in Vitas, Tondo.
Of the three options, Fernando said, he prefers medium-rise housing which does not require huge piece of land and can accommodate more occupants.
There are currently 544,609 squatter families in Metro Manila, 73.29 percent or 399,110 of which are illegally occupying private and government-owned lands, according to MMIAC.
Another 6.46 percent or 35,198 are in areas affected by government priority projects, while 19.83 percent or 107,997 are living in danger areas, such as along creeks and other waterways. (PNA)
Election 2010 updates - MMDA to use biometrics for settlers
Posted on 30 August 2009
mmda-logoThe Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will utilize biometrics system to ensure that only qualified informal settlers will get housing and relocation assistance from the government.
“We just want to make sure that no bogus person will infiltrate the program so we decided to resort to biometrics,” MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said.
He said the MMDA is being supported by Philhealth in the provision of a cheap yet reliable biometrics for the registration and pre-qualification of priority families for government assistance.
“We were using biometrics data… to discourage them [from selling] the property awarded to them,” Fernando said.
Earlier, the Metro Manila Inter-Agency Committee on Informal Settlers (MMIAC), concurrently chaired by Fernando, said more than 5,000 squatter families in the metropolis would be the first beneficiaries of the relocation and housing program.
The MMIAC, the body tasked with overseeing the relocation and housing program for informal settlers, also listed down priority areas for the implementation of the Comprehensive Shelter Program (CSP), which were pre-identified by the MMDA and the NHA.
Among its member-agencies aside from MMDA are the National Housing Authority (NHA), Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Office of the President-External Affairs, and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Among the priority areas for the program are Damayang Lagi, 11th Street and Sta. Cruz along San Juan River in Quezon City, Barangays 177, 135, 178, 179, 180, 181 and 182 which cover Estero de Tripa De Galina in Pasay City and Old Balara (West and East Side) in Commonwealth Avenue and Masambong and Manresa on Araneta Avenue, also in Quezon City.
There are a total of 3,290 families living in these identified areas, according to Fernando.
“We have identified these areas because they are all located along waterways, which are danger zones. Qualified informal settlers here will be given housing benefits based on the CSP guidelines,” he said.
The NHA likewise submitted 11 priority areas for relocation.
These are Buting, Pasig; Santolan, Mindanao Avenue, Balintawak, Quiapo, Nissan Tatalon, Pasay, Estero de Paco, R-10 Navotas, Market 3 Fishport of Navotas and Sta. Cruz.
About 2,164 families live in these communities.
An initial funding amounting to P300 million would be utilized for the program (P200 million for socialized housing and P100 million for the relocation sites).
The MMDA chief said the committee, in providing housing to qualified beneficiaries, is looking into three types of relocation: “off-site relocation”, the transfer of an informal settler to another area of settlement; “on-site development”, the direct purchase of the lot occupied by the informal settlers for purposes of upgrading; and the development of medium-rise buildings such as those in Vitas, Tondo.
Of the three options, Fernando said, he prefers medium-rise housing which does not require huge piece of land and can accommodate more occupants.
There are currently 544,609 squatter families in Metro Manila, 73.29 percent or 399,110 of which are illegally occupying private and government-owned lands, according to MMIAC.
Another 6.46 percent or 35,198 are in areas affected by government priority projects, while 19.83 percent or 107,997 are living in danger areas, such as along creeks and other waterways. (PNA)
Election 2010 updates
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