Iloilo City prioritizes informal settlers in new housing projects under ‘Pasilong’ program

ILOILO CITY — Informal settlers in danger zones and coastal areas will be among the top beneficiaries of the Iloilo City government’s new housing projects, part of its effort to provide safer and more permanent homes for vulnerable residents.

Iloilo City Government, through her spokesperson Joy Fantilaga-Gorzal, said at least 173 families will benefit from the planned Batiano Village housing project in Barangay West Habog-Habog, which will be funded by the city government. The project includes the development of houses and basic infrastructure.

Most of the beneficiaries are fire victims and residents living along riverbanks and coastal barangays that are frequently hit by flooding.

Aside from Batiano Village, the city is set to build over 2,000 additional housing units through four major projects — the Uswag Residential Complex and Uswag 4PH Condominium Complex in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, and the Westville Residences in Barangay Hibao-an, Mandurriao.

All these are part of the city’s comprehensive housing initiative called PASILONG: Pabalay para sa Pamilyang Ilonggo, which aims to provide decent shelter for every Ilonggo family.

According to Atty. Peter Jason Millare, head of the Iloilo City Local Housing Office (ICLHO), the program prioritizes not only those living in high-risk areas but also families displaced by government infrastructure projects.

The Westville Residences project, he said, will have 86 housing units to be constructed by Henber Realty Development Corporation as part of its compliance with socialized housing requirements. The city will assist in project design and in improving access roads, but no city funds will be used for construction.

Meanwhile, the Uswag Residential Complex and Uswag 4PH Condominium Complex will deliver a combined 1,917 housing units, in partnership with Eon Realty and Development Corp. and the National Housing Authority (NHA).

At present, Iloilo City has 46 relocation and resettlement sites, whose residents are organized into 55 homeowners’ associations, six federations, and one confederation.

The city has also acquired nearly 30,000 square meters of additional land in preparation for upcoming housing projects to address the growing demand for relocation and resettlement.