More homes await residents of San Pedro City, Laguna who have been affected by the now under-construction North South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project.
This, as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) led the kickoff of yet another housing project that will address the needs of residents along the right-of-way of the former Philippine National Railways (PNR).
DOTr officials, joined by San Pedro City Mayor Art Mercado, presided over the recent groundbreaking ceremonies for the Sining Apartments Public Rental Facility located in Barangay Landayan.
The new facility aims to accommodate those who were displaced by the NSCR-South Extension project to Calamba City, Laguna but were found ineligible for socialized housing projects.
The Sining Apartments Public Rental Facility aims to provide displaced families with a safe place they can call their home at very low and affordable rental rates ranging from P500 to P700 a month.
Funded by the DOTr, the Sining Apartments will consist of three multi-storey buildings with a total of 242 residential units.
The facility can accommodate 191 non-landowner project-affected families (PAFs).
Each unit has a living room, dining room, bedroom, kitchen, toilet and bath. As an in-city development, residents will remain in areas near schools, workplaces and essential community services.
DOTr Assistant Secretary for Right-of-Way and Site Acquisition (ROWSA) IC Calaguas emphasized that the initiative stands out as one of the government’s programs in balancing infrastructure progress with meaningful social support.
“Ito po ay una sa history ng Department of Transportation. Pinondohan po ito ng DOTr para po masigurado na hindi po madi-displace lahat po ng pamilyang tatamaan,” Calaguas said.
Meanwhile, Mercado stressed that the project marks a new transformative chapter —- brimming with hope, security and a brighter future for the families of San Pedro City.
“Ang Sining Apartments ay patunay na kapag nagkakaisa ang pamahalaan at komunidad, mas marami tayong maaabot para sa kapakanan ng ating mga mamamayan. Taos-puso po akong nagpapasalamat sa pambansang pamahalaan, sa ating mga ahensya, at sa lahat ng sektor na nagtutulungan upang maisakatuparan ang proyektong ito,” the city executive said.
The construction of the housing rental facility being constructed by the San Pedro LGU is expected to be completed by June 2027.
The Sining Apartments marks the second phase of a wider housing development project spearheaded by the DOTr and the local government for residents affected by the NSCR.
Last March 25, DOTr officials and the local government of San Pedro also presided over the ceremonial turnover of the new housing units for NSCR beneficiaries at the Sining Residences 1 housing project in Barangay Bagong Silang.
Beneficiaries of the housing site, which features a total of 528 units, were given generous terms by the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SFHC) for their new units.
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