President Arroyo has directed the conversion of a huge 1,551-hectare property of the Department of Finance in six barangays in San Miguel, Bulacan into housing and relocation sites for government employees and informal settlers, respectively.

The Chief Executive signed Executive Order No. 840 declaring the DoF property located in Barangays Tartaro, Calumpang, Sibul, Kinamatayang Kabayo, Sta. Lucia and Malibay as housing sites.

Of the 1,551-hectare property, 300 hectares each will be allotted for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), teachers, and other government employees for a total of 1,200 hectares.

The remaining 351 hectares will be allotted to informal settlers whose homes were destroyed by typhoon “Ondoy”.

“In order to alleviate the sufferings of informal settler-families whose homes in danger areas were devastated by Typhoon Ondoy, portions of the subject property are allocated as relocation site for them and other similarly situated victims of future catastrophes,” the EO said.

Under the EO, Mrs. Arroyo tasked the National Housing Authority, as administrator of the housing site, together with the Department of Budget and Management, to ensure the allocation of a budget for the housing site implementation.

She also directed an executive committee headed by the NHA to formulate the policies for the implementation of the directive. The committee is composed of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), AFP, PNP, Department of Education (DepEd), and the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).