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Tulfo raises dire living conditions in resettlement: Sen. Raffy Tulfo laments the hardships experienced by informal settler families (ISFs) due to the lack of public utilities in resettlement areas provided to them by the government Monday, November 28, 2022. During the hybrid hearing of the Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement concerning bills seeking to improve government resettlement programs, Tulfo said he received several complaints that basic public utilities such as electricity, water and sewage services are absent at a number of housing and resettlement areas offered by the government which, according to utility companies, was due to the small number of ISFs in the area. He also said he received reports that many housing units were poorly made, some of which had damaged walls and rooftops, making them hardly habitable. "There should be a clear plan before informal settlers are asked to move in to their new homes. Government should get in touch with utility companies to ensure that these services, including electricity and water, are already available when they move in," Tulfo said in Filipino. Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Undersecretary Avelino Tolentino III said they will review existing resettlement sites and to provide the basic infrastructure and immediate needs of occupants. (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)