Iloilo City informal settlers may exceed housing target

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Rapid urbanization in Iloilo City has led to a rise in informal settlements, mostly on flood-prone and neglected lands along waterways.

The Iloilo City Local Housing Office (ICLHO) stated that based on their projections and validated data, the number of informal settlers in the city may surpass the existing housing backlog.

Iloilo City currently has an estimated 15,000 housing backlogs based on the ICLHO data. City Mayor Jerry Treñas, on the other hand, said the city has an estimated housing backlog of 20,000 units for informal settler families and low-income earners.

“The target is quite big, but hopefully it can be reduced during the qualification process,” said ICLHO head Atty. Peter Jason Millare in a press conference on Monday, July 22.

He noted that Sto. Niño Norte in the Arevalo district has the highest number of informal settlers, with over 800 individuals already geotagged.

The citywide survey of informal settlers, which commenced earlier this July, has covered 102 villages so far.

Millare said that of the reported figure, 93 villages were validated by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) in 2021, which is still considered valid.

Millare noted that some villages require only revalidation, which will expedite the survey process.

The ICLHO said they already issued a resolution to prioritize 149 families living along the Batiano River, which stretches along the Molo district.

Atty. Millare pointed out that the Batiano River should be declared a no-build zone and that they will strictly monitor and facilitate the demolition of houses in the area.

ICLHO aims to complete the data collection by August this year to align with the training and workshop with DHSUD for the creation of a new local shelter plan.

“We have a local shelter plan from 2016-2025 but unfortunately it does not respond to our present circumstances,” Millare emphasized.

Considering the environmental hazards for most informal settlers, Millare underscored the need for long-term relocation solutions but acknowledged the high cost of land in the city.

“For a long-term plan, there is no other solution but to relocate them. The hindrance is that our land here is expensive compared to other cities,” he said.

The city government has three housing projects in the pipeline: EON Realty and Development Corporation’s project in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro District, Ethan Property Developer’s project in Petals Ville, also in Jaro District, and PHINMA Property Holdings Corp.’s project at an undetermined site.

The city government also has an agreement with the DHSUD for the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino: Zero ISF Program for 2028.