As the government speeds up the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) System, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) guarantees that no family displaced by the project will be left behind.
DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the government is expediting the construction of 16,725 housing units for the relocation of families affected by the construction of the 147-kilometer NSCR System.
“The President said that the construction of relocation sites for those affected by the NSCR should be completed immediately. Aside from the housing units, the DOTr is also funding the compensation and livelihood of the relocated families,” Lopez said.
Families affected by the NSCR project are beginning to move into their new homes. In Biñan, Laguna, 80 units at ‘The Meadows Housing Project’ were officially turned over to families this Tuesday.
This progress mirrors recent success in San Fernando, Pampanga, where 170 units have already been occupied. The DOTr confirms that this is just the beginning, with a steady stream of housing turnovers expected throughout the year.
“Following the orders of our President Marcos and Sec. Lopez, DOTr will not abandon all those we will relocate. We will be with you every step of the way and we will ensure that your life is made easier throughout the relocation process,” DOTr Assistant Secretary Irish Calaguas said.
Biñan City Mayor Angelo Alonte said “The Meadows Housing Project is not just a house but a symbol of hope, dignity, and a better future for our countrymen.
“ To our beneficiaries, let us take care of it and we will ensure that we take care of you as long as you are here in the city of Biñan,” Alonte said.
Aside from ‘The Meadows’ housing project which has 2,030 units in 26 buildings, the DOTr, in collaboration with LGUs and partner agencies, is also completing other relocation sites.
These include Sining Residence II with 1,920 units, Sining Residence I with 528 units, Rizal Ville with 2,130 units, and Naic, Cavite with 5,452 units.
In the North segment of the NSCR, the DOTr is partnering with the National Housing Authority (NHA) for three relocation sites in Pampanga.
Meanwhile, the agency is targeting to relocate 4,515 informal settler families (ISFs) in Angeles City and San Fernando City in Pampanga and in Calumpit, Bulacan.
The 147-kilometer NSCR System will traverse from Clark International Airport (CRK) in Pampanga to Calamba in Laguna, reducing travel time from CRK to Calamba to less than 2.5 hours from the usual 4 hours via land travel.
It will feature the country’s first Airport Express Service, which will connect CRK to Makati in less than an hour and will connect CRK to Alabang in less than 1 hour 15 mins. It will also feature the country’s first ‘Through Train Interoperations’ with the Metro Manila Subway.
The 35-station rail system is expected to generate 350,000 jobs during construction and operations, while serving almost a million passengers daily at full operations. The partial operations for the NSCR’s Valenzuela to Malolos segment is set to start by December 2027, while the Malolos to Clark segment is targeted to be operational by October 2028.
