The smooth relocation of informal settlers at the JUSMAG Compound in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) has generated a bandwagon effect with more and more families availing themselves of the all-out support provided by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

BCDA president and chief executive officer Arnel P. Casanova announced that at present, BCDA has already received applications from 161 families who would like to avail of the relocation program.

“The growing availment turnout is but a result of the sincerity of BCDA to provide dignified housing to the informal sector in the JUSMAG area,” Casanova said.

The relocation program consists of cash equivalent to the value of their respective houses as assessed by the Taguig City assessor’s office, plus a cash incentive which the resettlers can use as start-up capital for any livelihood project they may set up in their new community.

Earlier, Casanova described the assistance being offered by the state agency as the “best relocation program that can be offered to informal settlers.”

Out of the 161 families who have applied, 41 families have availed of the relocation program consisting of either outright cash package or the relocation package. So far, only a few availed of the outright cash package while most applicants choose to relocate to the National Housing Authority (NHA) relocation sites in Barangays San Isidro and San Jose in Rodriguez, Casanova added.

Other BCDA officials shared Casanova’s observation that positive feedbacks from the early birds at the relocation sites “apparently encouraged their former neighbors at the JUSMAG area to follow suit.”

The outspoken ones among the relocated families invariably declared that they are now experiencing stability and better quality of life in their new homes which they proudly call their own.

One child, apparently in a state of disbelief upon seeing their new house, couldn’t help but ask her father if it was truly their own and would be living there permanently.

Another relocatee said their roof no longer leaks when it rains.

Some of the transferees have reportedly put up livelihood projects using their cash incentives provided by the BCDA as start-up capital.

“These positive stories merely confirms that we are moving in the right direction in pursuit of our corporate objective of developing the JUSMAG area without losing sight of the interest and welfare of the affected families,” Casanova said.

In an earlier statement, Casanova said the BCDA’s policy is “development for all.”

“We have a trustworthy administration. Our intention is to improve the situation of the poor by offering them dignified relocation,” he said.

During the relocation of the initial batch of settlers, Casanova personally assisted in loading family belongings onto trucks that would take them to the relocation sites which he said were complete with utilities and amenities, notably schools, churches, nearby markets, and hospitals or health clinics.

Meanwhile, consultation meetings with a view to persuade the remaining JUSMAG settlers are still ongoing.

Casanova said that with the summer season signaling a hiatus from school work, families with children can now focus on availing of the relocation package. “They can now work on the necessary preparations for their children to transfer to a new school before the school year starts in June with the BCDA ready to assist them.”

To facilitate processing of the applications, the BCDA offers its service, free of charge, for documentation, notarization, and application purposes.