Informal settlers, particularly those who will be affected by big and multi-million-peso infrastructure projects such as malls, condominiums, and mass transport hubs, need not worry of their relocation.
The Quezon City government starting this year will not allow businessmen to push through with their multi-million-peso projects in the city without first providing decent housing units to those families who will be affected or displaced.
Mayor Herbert M. Bautista said that one of his administration’s policies today is for companies to accept their corporate social responsibility (CSR), especially to those families who will lose their homes.
Bautista said that companies who want to do business in QC particularly those who want to construct malls, condominiums, hubs, and mass transport should input in their cost the budget for the housing provision for the city’s informal settlers who will be affected.
“Kung gusto nilang magtayo at magnegosyo sa QC then magkaroon sila ng pabahay para sa mga pamilya na maaapektuhan ng proyekto nila. Hindi sila puwedeng magtayo ng kanilang negosyo dito sa ating lungsod kung walang pabahay,” the mayor said.
The Mayor said that one of his responsibilities to QC residents particularly those informal settlers, to whom he promised to address their housing needs during the 2010 election period, is to help them realize their dream of having houses which they can call their own.
“I am serious in addressing the housing needs of my constituents, only in this manner that I could touch their heart…that’s why I want businessmen who really wanted to establish business in QC to consider the lives of the people who will be affected by their project,” the mayor said.
Bautista believed that companies could still gain much profit from their projects despite providing housing projects for the city’s poor.
“This move is a sincere gesture of this administration to help the poor,” the mayor said. -30- Maureen Quinoñes, PAISO
