PRESS RELEASE
September 4, 2008
Office of Caloocan City Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri
Ref. Public information Office
Telefax 3244644

It’s all systems go for an in-city relocation of some 2,220 families from 21 barangays affected by the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Southrail project, Caloocan City Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri yesterday said.

According to Echiverri, the city government was able to provide a suitable resettlement site for qualified squatting families in Barangay 171, Bagumbong, in Caloocan North.

“Come October, we would be overseeing the in-city relocation of residents living near railroad tracks and those that are affected by the North and Southrail Linkages Development project,” the mayor emphasized.

Echiverri said the city’s Urban Poor Affairs Office (UPAO) had painstakingly identified the affected families currently occupying portions of the marked PNR properties from Sangandaan up to the 2nd avenue.

For his part, UPAO chief Alexander “Buboy” Bernadette said the families volunteered to be relocated because the city government was able to provide an appropriate site that is near to schools and marketplaces and has provisions for modern conveniences like electricity and running water.

“Mayor Echiverri has made it clear, that our priorities as local government officials should be an ‘in-city relocation’ for the affected families first and comprehensive community development second,” Bernadette said.

Echiverri earlier organized the Southrail Local Inter-Agency Committee (LIAC) that put together key government offices and agencies in order to ensure that residents will be able to relocate safely and securely.

Moreover, the LIAC will provide vital housing and livelihood incentives including micro financing for starting a new business and for purchasing construction materials.