President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the inauguration and turnover of 1,099 housing units at St. Barts Southville Heights in Barangay San Bartolome on Monday, September 15. The new homes are for residents affected by the construction of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Long Haul (SLH) Project.
President Marcos Jr. emphasized the administration’s commitment to inclusive development, stating, “Nothing is left behind, nothing is cast aside, and nothing is neglected. That is the principle of our National Housing for Filipinos—housing with dignity.” He highlighted that St. Barts is designed as a complete community, not just a housing complex, with well-designed facilities.
The project is a key component of the Marcos Jr. administration’s Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing Program (4PH). It was implemented through a collaborative effort involving the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the National Housing Authority (NHA), and the City of San Pablo.
Key officials present at the event included PNR General Manager Deovanni S. Miranda, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling, and National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Joeben A. So.
The PNR South Long Haul Project, a 556-kilometer railway connecting Manila to Bicol, is currently in its pre-implementation phase. The DOTr and PNR are actively working on land acquisition, relocating informal settler families, and utility lines, while also securing funding for the project.
