QUEZON CITY Mayor Joy Belmonte revealed Tuesday that the local government has partnered with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and National Housing Authority (NHA) to build in-city vertical housing for thousands of families displaced by the March 6 Barangay Pinyahan fire. Belmonte assured the displaced residents, particularly along the NIA Road in the village, that the city government “is moving quickly to provide permanent, dignified housing within the city.” “We are working closely with DHSUD to develop an in-city vertical housing project. We want to assure affected families that they will be prioritized and will benefit from the housing we are planning to build,” Belmonte said. Under the national government’s expanded Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program, the project will be implemented as part of the flagship housing initiative of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the local chief executive said. During a joint site inspection with DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling and NHA General Manager Joeben Tai, the officials agreed to develop multi-story residential buildings in the area as part of an in-city resettlement plan for the fire victims. “With the construction expected to begin soon, the first batch of housing units is targeted for turnover by the end of 2027,” Belmonte told The Manila Times, adding that they are now in the process of finalizing the project’s development plan, including the number of buildings and floors. “This project will ensure that families affected by the fire can return to a safe, secure and dignified home in our city,” she added. According to the city’s Housing, Community Development and Resettlement Department (HCDRD), the community currently has 847 structures housing 2,232 informal settler families, including owners, co-owners, renters, caretakers and sharers. While the housing project is being developed, the city government will provide rental subsidies to help affected families secure temporary shelter, the HCDRD said. Additional financial assistance has also been pledged by DHSUD, NHA, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to help cover rental expenses. At present, the city government has opened seven evacuation centers near the affected area, while the local and national government agencies are providing assistance to displaced families, Belmonte said.