San Juan City informal settlers relocate for national flood control program

Several families living on top of a major drainage line on San Venancio Street in Barangay San Perfecto, San Juan City, voluntarily relocated to newly built housing units created by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) on Wednesday, Dec. 3, to give way to the ongoing Oplan Kontra Baha program launched by the national government to mitigate flooding in Metro Manila.

- By PATRICK GARCIA

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon witnessed the voluntary clearing of eight residential structures built by the informal settler families (ISFs) along the drainage line.

"The eight families occupying these structures voluntarily agreed to vacate the site after it was determined that their houses obstructed rainwater flow, significantly contributing to flooding during heavy rains," Zamora said.

Under his directive, the families have been transferred to prefabricated housing units at the staging area in Barangay Batis, where they will occupy these units rent-free, paying for just electricity and water.

Each 15-square-meter temporary housing unit is equipped with its own toilet and bath and a provision for a kitchen.

The housing units were inaugurated last Nov. 18, where 110 units were turned over by the city government to residents who lost their homes in a fire that hit Barangay Batis last April 16. 2024.