Human Settlements Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar and Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Benitez led the groundbreaking ceremony for the Yuhum Village at the Arao property in Barangay Vista Alegre, that kick starts the construction of housing units for informal settler families (ISF) in Bacolod City.
Benitez, with the support of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), said he aims to construct 10,000 housing units worth P10 billion in various sites in Bacolod City.
The target is to complete the construction of the 10,000 housing units by 2023, Acuzar said.
A total of 5,000 units will be built in Barangay Vista Alegre, some of which will be in mid-rise housing buildings.
One of the obstacles they are facing is securing land for the city’s Yuhum Village housing projects, Benitez said.
The mayor said he is working on securing government land from the Presidential Commission on Good Government, Department of Agrarian Reform and the Department of Transportation.
He has talked to the heads of those government agencies and they are all willing to help Bacolod, Benitez said.
OLD AIRPORT
The old Bacolod City airport will be part of the housing program, Benitez said.
There are 20 hectares owned by the Philippine National Bank whose officials have expressed interest in joining whatever development we are planning for the old airport, Benitez said.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines also owns 20 hectares in the area, he added.
Benitez said he spoke to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista Thursday night and he is willing to give the Bacolod City government a free hand in the development of the 20-hectare CAAP property into a new economic center, Benitez said.
The housing programs of the city in coastal villages will also address the need for flood control, Benitez also said.*