DOTr to fast-track housing for families displaced by railway project

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is accelerating the construction of relocation sites for families affected by the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) system in Bulacan and Pampanga provinces to ensure immediate occupancy.

DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the agency, partner government units and local offices to prioritize improved housing and recreational facilities for displaced households.

The relocation project, named “El Nuevo De Municipio de Calumpit,” is designed to provide liveable spaces for those residing along the railway’s path.

“The priority of the President and the DOTr is clear: our fellow citizens affected by transportation projects must have a proper place to relocate. We will ensure that no affected family is left behind,” said Lopez.

The DOTr teamed up with the Calumpit local government to develop the site, which is expected to accommodate 637 families from the municipalities of Calumpit and Malolos in Bulacan along with Apalit and Minalin in Pampanga. While the road embankment is finished, primary construction is scheduled to begin in April 2026 and reach completion by 2027.

The development will consist of six four-story buildings equipped with community areas such as a basketball court, parks and playgrounds. The Calumpit local government will manage the social preparations for the incoming residents.

Three relocation sites are under development for the northern segment of the NSCR, with two in San Fernando, Pampanga and one in Cutud, Angeles City. Data show that 4,515 informal settler families will move to northern sites, while 12,210 families will be relocated in the south.

DOTr assistant secretary for right of way and site acquisition IC Calaguas said the office is resolving land issues to keep the NSCR project on schedule.

“The support from our President and Secretary Lopez for our projects is immense. Because of this, we are confident that we can resolve all right-of-way issues and provide proper relocation for the affected residents,” said Calaguas.

Calumpit Mayor Glorime Faustino recently inspected the site alongside Calaguas and local councilors. Other housing phases are being managed through partnerships with the National Housing Authority, Social Housing Finance Corp. and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.