VP Noli supports organization

of former railway settlers

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.

The output was then presented to the respective government agencies for
appropriate support and action. (end)