VP Noli supports organization of former railway settlers

MANILA, Oct. 6 (PNA) -- Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Chairman Noli “Kabayan” De Castro supported the creation of an organization to represent the families relocated from the informal settler communities along the Southrail and Northrail tracks.

The Northville and Southville Homeowners Association Federation, named after the villages where the families have resettled, was formed during the First Northville and Southville National Congress held on September 18 and 19, 2008 at the Adamson University.

The new association also elected its officers during the event.

The Federation Officers shall play the key role in coordinating the development activities for the relocation sites in partnership with the government and private entities.

The Vice President allotted P1 million from the National Housing Authority and another P500,000 from the Social Services Program of the Office of the Vice President in support of the association’s initiatives.

The Northville and Southville National Congress was organized by Fr. Nonong Fajardo, C.M., Director of the Integrated Community Extension Services Office (ICES) of the Adamson University, in coordination with HUDCC and NHA.

The Vice President lauded the initiative of the academe to gather all the major stakeholders of the relocation project in an event that actively engaged the concerned National Government Agencies (NGAs) and Local Government Units (LGUs).

Among the participants were the Department of Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Interior and Local Government, National Livelihood Development Council, National Anti-Poverty Commission, as well the concerned Local and Provincial government officials.

Through the Congress, the community leaders were able to discuss the issues and concerns of the relocatees, as well as their respective community-driven development plans with the Vice President and the representatives of the NGAs and LGUs.