Manila: The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is expediting relocation sites for families in Bulacan and Pampanga displaced by the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project. DOTr Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez on Monday said the housing projects are in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s order to expedite the construction of relocation sites, including community recreational facilities.

According to Philippines News Agency, the DOTr has partnered with the Calumpit local government for the construction of the relocation site dubbed 'El Nuevo De Municipio de Calumpit.' The site will accommodate 637 families from Calumpit and Malolos in Bulacan, and Apalit and Minalin in Pampanga. The road embankment is complete, with construction set to start in April and finish by 2027. The project will feature six four-story buildings with a basketball court, parks, and playgrounds.

The Calumpit government will manage social preparation for affected families. The DOTr stated that three other relocation sites are currently being developed: two in San Fernando, Pampanga, and one in Cutud, Angeles City. Approximately 4,515 informal settler families will be relocated to Angeles City, while 12,210 families will move to San Fernando. The sites are being developed with the National Housing Authority, Social Housing Finance Corporation, and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.