Vice President Jejomar C. Binay Saturday said the relocation site for informal settlers from Sitio San Roque, Barangay Bagong Pag-asa remains open for those who would go voluntarily.

                  Binay said the National Housing Authority (NHA) continues to welcome residents who wish to apply for their new homes.

                  President Aquino ordered NHA to hold off the relocation after the demolition of houses in the North Triangle area turned rough. Majority of the residents were intended to be transferred to Southville 8C and some in Southville 8B in Rodriguez, Rizal.

                  NHA said that out of 8,968 families in North Triangle, 3,369 are now in Southville 8C and 71 others are in 8B. It further said that the relocation, which started April this year, is ongoing on voluntary basis.

                  “Itinigil po muna namin ang relokasyon sa utos ni Pangulong Noynoy. Subalit, taos-puso pa rin po naming tinatanggap ang mga pamilya na nais nang lumipat at boluntaryong pumunta rito,” Binay said to the relocatees during his visit to Southville 8B.

                  The Southville 8B housing project is also accommodating 409 victims of typhoon Ondoy and 107 families displaced by the R10 road-widening project in Navotas. Binay, along with the local officials of Rodriguez and the top managers of NHA, visited the area to commemorate Ondoy’s first anniversary.

                  Binay likewise handed 10 families the keys to their housing units and inspected the facilities of the resettlement area. He also held a dialogue with the relocatees to know about their living condition.

                  “Tayo po ay magtatapatan. Sasabihin ninyo ang inyong mga karaingan at sasabihin din namin ang makakaya naming gawin. Hindi po kami mangangako ng anumang hindi namin kayang ibigay,” Binay said.

                  The residents raised concern about lack of electricity, potable water, hospital, school, transport terminal and livelihood programs.

                  Southville relocatees said that they suffer from constant blackouts and depend on a generator for electricity. Binay responded that he already coordinated with Oscar Reyes, the Chief Operating Officer of Meralco, to earmark P30.4 million for electrification in Southville.

                  The residents also reported they are drinking water from the artesian well and they fear it is not safe especially for the children. They were asking if the government could ration water for their daily consumption.

                  Rizal Mayor Cecilio Hernandez told them Manila Water is in the process of drilling deep wells that would supply water for the Southville area. He also said that by 2012, Southville will already be sourcing its water from La Mesa Dam.

                  Furthermore, Rizal Gov. Casimiro Ynares III assured the residents that Manila Water would install pipelines that would connect each housing unit to the water source. He added that the installation would start around late November or early December this year.

                  As for the lack of hospital, Southville 8B has one health care center but the residents wanted to have a facility for emergency cases. The mayor confirmed the local government of Rizal is planning to build a hospital in the area.

                  The resettlement site also has one 3-storey school building that is ongoing construction and will be completed approximately next year. NHA General Manager Chito Cruz said they have coordinated with nearby public schools to accommodate the children of relocated families.

                  The residents also requested for the construction of a transport terminal as most of them work in Navotas and Quezon City. Cruz answered that NHA is already planning to organize a transport cooperative among the residents. He also noted that the Vice President suggested tapping Filipinos abroad to donate vehicles.

                  Meanwhile, for the residents’ concern about the lack of livelihood opportunities, Binay announced that NHA already approved a P28 million budget for projects and programs to help relocatees earn money.

                  “Sa ngayon, kailangan po lamang natin mabigyan ng garantiya ang COA [Commission On Audit] na ang perang nakalaan sa mga proyektong ito ay magagamit nang tama,” Binay said.

                  He also clarified to the residents that the NHA’s capacity to deliver services is highly dependent on the budget allocation of the national government.

                  “Ang pera po sa housing ay galing sa badyet ng pamahalaan. Huwag po sanang sumama ang inyong loob kung hindi agarang matutugunan ang inyong mga pangangailangan,” he said.

                  Despite the lack of funds, Binay assured the residents he and the NHA will look for ways to address the needs of the relocated families. He mentioned partnership with private developers and even borrowing money from lending institutions.

                  “Hangad namin parati na magkaroon ng disenteng tahanan ang bawat Pilipino kung saan sila pwedeng mamuhay nang may dignidad,” Binay said.