MANILA, Philippines - The government is eyeing to build tenement-type houses to address the problem of homelessness in Metro Manila.

Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando said the construction of such medium-rise apartments will be more viable to accommodate informal settlers in the metropolis.

Fernando, concurrent Metro Manila Inter-Agency Committee on Informal Settlers head, said these tenement-type apartments are the most practical means of providing resettlement to Metro Manila’s homeless families.

MMIAC figures show that there are 544,000 squatter families, 70,000 of whom are living along danger zones such creeks and riversides.

“These people are our priority,” he said in a radio interview.

The MMDA head said it has begun sprucing up tenement homes in Vitas, Tondo, Manila, to benefit 10,000 squatter families.

He said relocation of the families will pave the way for the clearing of R-10, a major thoroughfare used by delivery trucks in bringing in produce in Metro Manila.

He said there is a need to construct 305 houses a day or 30,859 units per year within 10 years.

The government will have to allocate P30 billion annually to build the required number of tenement-type homes.

Source:www.philstar.com

Tags: Bayani Fernando Manila housing, homelessness in Metro Manila, Metro Manila housing problem, settlers in the metropolis, Tenement-type homes