PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday led the awarding and distribution of new housing units to families displaced by the ongoing construction of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Long Haul Project, which aims to revive the railway travel from Metro Manila to Bicol.
Funded through the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Trust Fund, the P769 million housing project benefits 1,099 informal settler families who were affected by Segments 2 to 7 of the PNR-SLH project that was done from November 2023 to June 2025.
Each beneficiary received a house and lot unit at St. Barts Southville Heights in Barangay San Bartolome, San Pablo City, Laguna. Each unit is a row house built on a 40.50-square-meter lot with a total floor area of 27.35 square meters.
“Ang mga benepisyaryo ng proyektong ito ay mga informal settlers na dating nakatira sa kahabaan ng riles ng tren. At ngayon, masaya nating ipinagdiriwang na may mas ligtas, mas maayos na tahanan na mayroon kayong mauuwian (The beneficiaries of this project are informal settlers who used to live along the railway tracks. And now, we happily celebrate that you have a safer, more secure home to call your own),” the President said in addressing the event.
Marcos said the government’s goal is not just to improve public infrastructure but also to provide safe and decent homes for displaced communities.
The housing project is part of the administration’s flagship housing program, Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing Program (4PH).
Apart from the houses, the community includes the construction of vital public facilities, such as a three-story elementary school with 15 classrooms, a multipurpose covered court, a health center, a two-classroom daycare center, a tricycle terminal, a livelihood training center, a material recovery facility (MRF), and a community police action building.
NHA General Manager Joeben Tai said the beneficiaries will enjoy a six-month grace period with no payment.
Payment for each unit would be P800 per month for the first five years. The whole amortization period will span 25 to 30 years, depending on the beneficiary’s financial capacity.
Tai said six more housing projects are in the pipeline for informal settlers in Quezon Province.
The construction of the PNR SLH Project also affected and displaced communities in Tiaong, Candelaria, Sariaya, and Pagbilao in Quezon Province.
The railway project is a major government transportation initiative spanning 577 kilometers, forming a 33-station rail line that connects Metro Manila to Batangas and Bicol.
