As a way of wrapping up the local housing and relocation program of the city, Valenzuela City together with National Housing Authority (NHA) held the closing ceremony of the Disiplina Village Bignay on July 28.

The completion of site 5 of Disiplina Village Bignay which consists of 15 buildings and 522 units marked the official completion of Disiplina Village Bignay. With a total of 111,293 square meters of land area, 104 three-story buildings and 3,702 units, Disiplina Village Bignay is the largest in-city low-rise building relocation project in the country today. Currently, more than 3,300 Valenzuelano Informal Settler Families (ISF) are living in Disiplina Village Bignay. With this completion, an additional 1,200 Valenzuelano families who are living in dangerous zones will be able to benefit from this housing project. Each unit is consisting of a 16 square meter floor area with an additional 11 square meter that can be used as a loft, it also has individual toilet and bath, electricity and water supply. Disiplina Village Bignay Elementary School and High School can also be found inside the village. The village also has its own public market, transport terminal, activity center, covered court as well as a mini park, where residents can spend their leisure time and children their play time.

Disiplina Village Bignay was initially launched by the city government in cooperation with National Housing Authority (NHA) in February 12, 2014 under the administration of Mayor REX Gatchalian, with a vision of providing a more decent home for Valenzuelano Informal Settler Families (ISF), this closing ceremony symbolizes the success of this program.

In his message Congressman REX said “Napakamakasaysayan ng araw na ito dahil dito na natin wawakasan ‘yung paglilipat ng mga tao dito sa Disiplina Village Bignay. Proud tayo sa istorya ng village na ito, dahil maraming opisyales galing sa iba’t ibang pamahalaang nasyonal at local ang pumupunta rito para gayahin at gawing template ang ating Disiplina Village, pero hindi ito tungkol doon, tungkol ito sa kwento ng mg mamamayan ng Valenzuela City na nagsama-sama para baguhin at pagandahin ‘yung antas ng ating pamumuhay sa lungsod, pero tandan ninyo na hindi dito natatapos ang kwento ng Disiplina Village, dahil sa araw araw na nandito kayo, eh araw araw ring may bibisita sa inyo, kapag hindi ninyo nagampanan ang inyong responsibilidad na maging disiplinado bilang mamamayan ng Disiplina Village, guguho ang istorya ng buong Disiplina Village, dahil kayo ang inspirasyon ng lahat ng mamamayan sa iba’t ibang magiging Disiplina Village sa buong bansa, kaya’t ang tagumpay niyo ay tagumpay ng buong kwento ng Disiplina Village.” [This day is very historic because today is the day that we end the moving of the remaining beneficiaries here in Disiplina Village Bignay. We are very proud of the story of this village because many national and local government officials visit here to see and to follow our lead in making this Disiplina Village, but this is not about that, this is about our bond as citizens of Valenzuela City who wishes to improve our living situations, but remember that your story doesn’t end there because in everyday that you live here, there are also visitors who will see you and if you don’t fulfill your responsibility to be a disciplined citizen of this Village, then the whole story of Disiplina Village will crumble because you are the inspiration of the other Disiplina Villages in our city and the other future Disiplina Villages all over the country. Your success is the success of the entire Disiplina Village story.]

Meanwhile, Mayor WES said “Sa araw na ito, ay hindi lang housing units ang ibinibigay natin sa inyo, ibinibigay din natin ang magandang buhay at pangarap sa bawat Valenzuelano at bawat pamilya, kaya’t natutuwa po ako na sa last phase ng Disiplina Village na ito, ay nagampanan natin ang pangarap na ating ipinangako sa ating mga kababayan lalong lalo na sa mga nandito sa Barangay Bignay. Sinisigurado ko po sa inyo, bilang inyong bagong upong punong lungsod, ay agad-agad na nating sisimulan ang Disiplina Village sa Barangay Arkong Bato at Ugong, dahil ito na ang naging benchmark ng mga housing projects sa buong bansa. [Today, we are not just giving out the housing units, we are also giving better lives and dreams to every Valenzuelano citizen and every family, that’s why we are very happy that with the last phase of this Disiplina Village, we are able to fulfill our promised dream to our fellow citizens especially to those who are here in Barangay Bignay. I will make sure that as your newly-elected mayor, we will immediately start the building of the Disiplina Villages in Barangay Arkong Bato and Ugong, because this has become the benchmark of all the housing projects all over the country.]

Joining Mayor WES and Congressman REX during the closing ceremony were Vice Mayor Lorie Natividad-Borja, National Housing Authority (NHA) Regional Manager Engr. Jovita Panopio, Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD-NCR) representative Mr. Aldrin Avelino, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) representative Mr. Crispulo Calicdan, Department of Interior and Local Government-Valenzuela City (DILG)  Director Mary Jane Nacario, Kapitan Garcing Victoriano and other city and barangay officials.

Future Disiplina Villages will be constructed in Barangay Arkong Bato and Ugong in accordance with the city’s mission of providing a decent home and accommodation for the remaining Informal Settler Families (IFS) in the city.

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