An initial 50 families affected by the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway Extension Project in this city have been relocated to their new homes.

The city government, together with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Philippine National Railways (PNR), National Housing Authority (NHA) and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) officially turned over the housing units located at Phase 2, San Fernando View Residences in Barangay Calulut here on Wednesday to the first 50 families from seven affected villages.

Some 1,200 families from the 14 barangays of the city are affected by the railway project. Other relocation sites are located in Barangays Panipuan and San Felipe.

Mayor Vilma Balle-Caluag thanked the affected families for their cooperation and willingness as she assured the city government’s continuing support.

“Salamat sa kanilang pakikiisa sa pagtatayo ng proyekto makakatulong sa bawat mamamayan at umasa sila sa patuloy na suporta ng pamahalaan (Thank you for their cooperation in the construction of the project which could help every citizen and rest assure for the continuous support of the government),” Caluag said in a statement on Thursday.

DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said this is just a ‘first’ of the many more initiatives that are set to be carried out, to ensure that no family is left behind and everyone will benefit from housing to livelihood.

“Ito po ay isa sa mga una nating pabahay, at marami pa po ang darating na pabahay na ibibigay ng DOTr, sa pamamagitan ng pagtutulungan sa local government, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, National Housing Authority at iba pang ahensiya (This is one of the first housing units and there are more to come that will be provided by DOTr, in cooperation with the local government, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, National Housing Authority and other agencies),” Bautista said.

The NSCR-Extension Project, as part of the 147-kilometer NSCR System, shall pave the way for the smooth integration of the Malolos-Clark and Calamba (Solis-Calamba) leg.

Once the entire system is completed, over half a million passengers can be served daily, with a shorter travel time of two hours from the current four hours. (PNA)