PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM) on Monday led another groundbreaking for a housing project under his flagship “Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino” program in Cebu City.

Together with House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, the President inaugurated the Cebu City South Coastal Urban Development Housing Project in Barangay Basak San Nicolas.

The first phase of the project, comprising ten, 20-storey buildings within the 25-hectare development, will benefit about 8,000 informal settler families (ISFs) and low-wage earners in the city.

The entire South Coastal Urban Development Project comprises three phases in different areas in Cebu City, covering a total of 60 hectares.

Acuzar expressed his gratitude to President Marcos Jr. for his “all-out support” to DHSUD, particularly in the implementation of the “Pambansang Pabahay.”

“On behalf of the hard-working men and women of DHSUD, ako po’y taos-pusong nagpapasalamat sa ating mahal na Pangulo sa kanyang walang sawang suporta at pagsusumikap para ibangon ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino na patuloy nangangarap magkaroon ng sariling tahanan,” Acuzar said.

“Rest assured, Mr. President, that we will double our efforts for the successful implementation of the ‘Pambansang Pabahay,’” he added.

It was the fourth time since last year that President Marcos Jr. has joined DHSUD in launching and inspecting housing project sites.

The Cebu City groundbreaking is the 16th event throughout the country since the Pambansang Pabahay was launched last September 2022.

Also, more than 80 local government units (LGUs) from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao have already signed memoranda of understanding so far.

“We will sustain the positive momentum to achieve our goal of building 1 million housing units annually in the next six years,” Acuzar added.

The “Pambansang Pabahay” is designed to address the country’s housing backlog, pegged at more than 6.5 million units.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jun I. Legaspi