By Darryl John Esguerra
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday led the inauguration and turnover of 1,099 new housing units to informal settler families displaced by the construction of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Long Haul Project in San Pablo City, Laguna.
The PHP769-million St. Barts Southville Heights Housing Project, funded through the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) trust fund and implemented by the National Housing Authority (NHA), was completed in June 2025 after breaking ground in late 2023.
It provides each beneficiary family a row house unit on a 40.5-square-meter lot, equipped with basic water and power connections.
Speaking before beneficiaries, Marcos said the program symbolizes “a new beginning” for families affected by government infrastructure projects.
“Kasama ng pagbubukas ng mga pintuan sa bagong tahanan ay ang bagong pag-asa para sa napakaraming pamilya (With the opening of new homes comes new hope for so many families),” Marcos said.
He emphasized that housing projects must go beyond shelter and build complete communities.
“Kaya po pagka sinabi natin ‘housing project,’ hindi lang po ibig sabihin ay may bahay. Ibig sabihin isang buong komunidad ang ating binubuo (When we say housing project, it does not just mean houses. It means we are building an entire community),” he said.
The site includes facilities under construction such as a three-storey elementary school, daycare center, health center, livelihood training center, covered court, wet and dry market, tricycle terminal, and a material recovery facility.
Marcos said these integrated amenities are aligned with the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program, which aims to deliver dignified housing nationwide.
He also cited the signing of Republic Act 12216 or the NHA Act last May, which extends the agency’s mandate for another 25 years.
“Walang iniiwan. Walang isinasantabi. At walang pinapabayaan. Iyan ang prinsipyo ng ating Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing Program—pabahay na may dignidad (No one is left behind, no one is set aside, no one is neglected. That is the principle of our national housing program —housing with dignity),” the President said.
He urged beneficiaries to take care of their new homes and foster solidarity within the community.
“May tahanan na po kayong matatawag ninyong sarili ninyo, pag-aari ninyo. Kaya ang pakiusap ko lang sa inyo: alagaan naman ninyo ang mga tahanang ito at mahalin ninyo ang inyong komunidad (You now have homes you can call your own, that you own. I ask you to take care of these houses and love your community).”
The PNR South Long Haul Project, a 577-kilometer, 33-station rail line from Metro Manila to Bicol, is expected to cut travel time to Legazpi City in Albay and boost economic opportunities in southern Luzon. (PNA)
