To sustain the Quezon City government’s socialized housing program, the 37-member council has given Mayor Herbert Bautista the green light to acquire 5,245-square meter parcels of private land to house informal settlers.
The council, led by Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, passed Ordinance No. 2694 to acquire through a negotiated sale of expropriation the parcels of private property in Barangay Bagbag, which are now being occupied by many informal settler families.
“Barangay Bagbag has so many informal settler families that must be provided with a decent and affordable dwelling. Hence, the acquisition of the subject lots for housing projects will be very beneficial to them,” Belmonte said.
Once taken over by the city government, the lots shall be converted by the city’s task force on socialized housing and development of blighted areas to an in-city socialized housing site.
Based on the latest estimate of the city government, there are about 190,000 informal setter families or 950,000 individuals.
Meanwhile, Quezon City is ready for the National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill at 2 pm on Thursday, June 21.
For this drill, the Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office is set to perform rescue drills and evacuation exercises at Child’s World School in Sta. Mesa Heights, Barangay Sto. Domingo.
A special education school for children with special needs was chosen as part of this quarter’s drill by the QCDRRMO to showcase the agency’s programs for inclusivity in disaster preparedness.
The drill aims to test the efficiency and usefulness of the preparedness, response and recovery plans, systems and policies developed in the city’s respective localities.
All the city’s 142 barangays were also given capabilities and training on Urban Search and Rescue and Basic Life Support to immediately respond to the emergency needs of residents. City government employees are expected to participate in the drill at the Quezon City Hall.
Quezon City was named Gawad Kalasag Hall of Famer after winning the Regional Gawad Kalasag Awards three years in a row.