At last, a home to call their own.
For residents of San Pedro City, Laguna who were affected by the construction of the southern portion of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), March 25, 2026 marks a new chapter of their lives.
San Pedro City Mayor Art Mercado joined national government officials in the ceremonial turnover of the new housing units for NSCR beneficiaries at the Sining Residences 1 housing project in Barangay Bagong Silang.
Also present during the event were Assistant Secretary Irish Calaguas from the Department of Transportation; Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling; officials of the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SFHC), and leaders from the ANUEFAVITA Homeowners Association.
The Sining Residences 1, which started in 2023, is part of the national government’s initiatives for residents of Laguna province who have to be relocated due to the construction of the NSCR’s Main South Line to Calamba City, Laguna.
The housing site features a total of 528 units within 11 buildings, or an average of 48 housing units per building, according to City Urban Housing and Development Office (CUDHO) focal person Melizza Tipon.
"Kumpleto na po ang mga units na ito, with water and electricity. Amenities are included on approved project, but ongoing preparation pa lang po since ang construction ng buildings ang priority," Tipon said in a message to OpinYon Laguna.
Beneficiaries of the project, like those from other housing projects under the DOTr’s NSCR scheme, were given generous terms by the SHFC, she added.
“More than a little of P1,000 a month [po ang babayaran nila sa SHFC], kasi subsidized ng government yung iba."
Fruits of cooperation
For Mercado, who also oversaw the groundbreaking ceremonies for the Sining Residences in his first term in 2023, the completion of the project is a fulfillment of a promise to San Pedrenses: a promise of a place they can truly call home.
“My heart is full seeing the Sining Residences 1 finally open its doors. [It] is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together,” the city executive said in his speech during the event.
Mercado also expressed his gratitude to officials of the DOTr, DHSUD and SHFC for their combined efforts to ensure that San Pedrenses whose lives and livelihood were displaced by the NSCR will be given a new lease on life.
“Hindi nagtatapos ang pagtutulungan ng ating LGU, ng DHSUD, at DOTR sa mga pabahay na ito. Ako at ang buong pamahalaang lungsod ay umaasa sa patuloy na suporta ng DHSUD at DOTR para sa mga programang kaakibat ng mga pabahay na ito, tulad ng livelihood, edukasyon para sa mga mag aaral, health services, at iba pang public services,” he emphasized.
“Higit kailanman, ang mga ito ay kailangan nating mailapit ngayon sa mga kababayan nating maninirahan sa mga pabahay na ito. Lubos ang aking kumpyansa, at ngayon pa lang ay lubos ang aking pasasalamat, na hindi tayo pababayaan ng DHSUD at DOTR na makamit ang mga mithiing ito.”
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