MANILA — Forty-nine families who had lived for years under the Osmeña Highway in Manila were relocated to a government housing site in San Ildefonso, Bulacan this week.
After three decades in the tunnel, 74-year-old Lourdes Quitara says, she finally has a home she can call her own.
“Wala naman akong pambayad sa upa. Patay na asawa ko. Ang pagkain minsan bihira. Tiyaga-tiyaga lang. Sabi ko, bago man lang ako mamatay, maranasan ko ‘yong bahay na sarili. ‘Yong di na binabaha,” Quitara said on Wednesday.
Quitara was among the families who left the tunnel to start a new life in the housing project of the National Housing Authority (NHA).
The families brought their belongings with them as they were transported from Manila to San Ildefonso by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Following tradition, Quitara scattered coins she had saved for two months upon arriving at her new home to attract good luck.
“Masaya ako kasi nagtitiyaga ako sa ilalim ng tulay, at least nakuha ko na ang bahay. At least natupad na ang pangarap ko, nagkaroon ng sariling bahay sa tagal ng panahon,” she said.
The 49 families were also given their Certificates of Eligibility for Lot Allocation by the NHA.
NHA General Manager Joeben Tai reminded the beneficiaries to take care of their new homes.
“Alam ko bawat isa po sa inyo ay qualified at deserve na magkaroon po ng bahay mula sa National Housing Authority. Hiling ko po na sana mahalin nyo po ang inyong mga bahay, huwag na huwag n’yo pong ibebenta yan dahil ang administrasyon po ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. pangarap po niya na magkaroon ng bagong bahay at disenteng bagong buhay,” he said.
NOT AN EASY TRANSITION
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian acknowledged that under the agency’s Pag-abot program, convincing the families to leave the area was not easy.
“Isipin rin natin ‘yong point of view nila na dito na sila tumira, dito pinanganak, dito tumanda, ‘yong mindset mahabang proseso ‘yon. It’s a whole of government approach, local and national government. Na-convince din natin ‘yong 84, ngayon wala kayong aasahang sagupaan… kasi naging maayos ang social preparation,” Gatchalian said.
Following the relocation, the living quarters in the tunnel were also demolished.
The Manila local government said it would monitor the area to prevent people from living there again, as the tunnel is considered a danger zone during disasters.
“Kausap na natin ‘yong mga barangay official na humingi na rin tayong tulong na bantayan itong lugar na hindi na mabalikan pa,” said Manila Department of Social Welfare Jay Dela Fuente.
Thirty-five families were also temporarily provided with rental subsidies while waiting for their housing units to be completed.
The DSWD likewise provided P10,000 in cash assistance to help the families start anew.
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