Press Release
July 9, 2019

HONTIVEROS TO PRIORITIZE RESETTLEMENT OF INFORMAL SETTLERS IN 18TH CONGRESS

Amid the government's "Build, Build, Build" (BBB) Program which seeks to accelerate infrastructure development, Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros filed a proposed measure to mandate local government units to provide livelihood assistance and other basic services to informal settler families who must be relocated due to development efforts.

"As developments expand at a bullish pace and infrastructure becomes a main priority, informal settlers face the real problem of displacement," Hontiveros said.

"Dapat may 'build, build, build' program din ang gobyerno ng mga makataong relocation sites para sa ating mga informal settlers," Hontiveros added.

Hontiveros's Senate Bill No. 167 or the "On-Site, In-City and Near-City Resettlement Program" seeks to strengthen the country's housing program by, among others, adopting on-site, in city, or near-city resettlement on the basis of "people's plans or proposals" submitted by affected informal settler families as a primary and preferred policy of the State.

The proposed bill also addresses concerns of Informal Settler Families vis-a-vis employment, access to markets for micro-enterprises, and basic services.

Hontiveros, citing data from the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), said that the number of informal settlers has gone up to as high as approximately 2.5 million Filipino families.

"For so long as we do not legislate and refine the resettlement process, we are enabling the displacement of thousands of people who deserve to call the Philippines home as much any other Filipino does. Let us not allow progress to serve only the few," Hontiveros said.

News Latest News Feed