SANTA BARBARA, ILOILO — The Provincial Government of Iloilo has secured funding to relocate 71 informal settler families, paving the way for a landmark infrastructure project. The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development committed to support the housing project during a meeting between Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. and DHSUD official Ryan Jaen on June 11 in Quezon City. The families currently occupy the proposed site of the Iloilo Smart, Green Government Center and its access road.
The new housing project will rise on a provincial government‑acquired property in Barangay Agusipan, Santa Barbara. The relocation is necessary to complete approximately 600 meters of roadway that will fully connect the government center site. Once moved, the families will stay within the same municipality, preserving access to their livelihoods. The initiative directly supports Iloilo’s broader push for inclusive, community‑based socialized housing.
A Government Center That Anchors Growth
The Iloilo Smart, Green Government Center is envisioned as a one‑stop shop centralizing national government agencies and streamlining public service delivery. The Department of Public Works and Highways Region 6 has already begun site development, including drainage excavation, roadway embankment, and slope protection. Phase I of a six‑storey multi‑purpose building is underway on the 6.3‑hectare property.
The facility will integrate sustainable design, smart technology, and efficient operational systems. It has received a ₱100‑million allocation under the 2024 General Appropriations Act, with additional national funding requested. Governor Defensor first presented the plan to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in February 2025 during a Regional Development Council meeting. The relocation of the 71 families represents the next crucial step in advancing this flagship project.
Building on a Proven Housing Blueprint
The Santa Barbara project follows the Purok Resilience Program model, the province’s innovative approach to socialized housing. The PRP relocates families from hazard‑prone areas to safer locations while keeping them within their original barangays. A pilot project in Barangay Nangka, Batad, already delivered 30 permanent housing units funded with ₱36 million from the provincial government.
Under the PRP, housing is not given for free. Beneficiaries enter a recovery program and begin paying amortization only after a family member graduates from college and secures employment. This ensures long‑term sustainability and community upliftment. The model has drawn national interest, with both the DILG and DHSUD exploring its replication in other areas.
A Strategic Timeline for Progress
The funding commitment for the Santa Barbara project was secured just one day before the news became public on June 12. Earlier, on June 2, Governor Defensor met with 2nd District Representative Kathryn Joyce Gorriceta, former congressman Mike Gorriceta, and Mayor Dennis Superficial to seek support for the access road and relocation plan. The collaboration among local, provincial, and national officials underscores the project’s importance.
All socialized housing projects now fall under the Pag‑IBIG Fund’s Expanded 4PH Program, which offers subsidized home loans with interest rates as low as three percent. DHSUD has also broken ground on the Iloilo Residences in Jaro, a 362‑unit rental housing project. For the 71 Santa Barbara families, the new homes in Barangay Agusipan represent not just relocation but an opportunity for a more secure and dignified future.
