DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian addresses families who live under the Osmeña Highway in Manila, Sept. 15, 2026. Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — The relocation of families living under the Osmeña Highway in Manila is underway.
They are the families featured in an ABS-CBN News documentary titled “Balang Araw, Hindi Na Palaging Gabi,” which highlighted their living conditions underneath the highway and their long wait for relocation.
READ: Manila LGU moves to expedite relocation of families living beneath Osmeña Highway
Officials from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Housing Authority (NHA), and Manila LGU visited the community on Tuesday, September 15 to process the families’ documents.
Of the families still living in the area, 49 are set to be relocated to a government housing project in San Ildefonso, Bulacan, according to the DSWD.
Community leader Jaya Vergara said they are already seeing progress in the relocation process.
“Medyo okay, medyo nakakangiti ng kahit pa paano. Dahil may konti, hindi naman sa konti, kumbaga sa 100%, almost 70% yung achievement na. At katuwang ‘yong DSWD bilang as team leader, medyo ‘yong pagod, may magandang resulta naman,” Vergara said.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the agency first conducted social preparation to determine the needs of each family, including those with children who are studying.
“Sa DSWD, meron kami tinatawag na social preparation. Ibig sabihin, hindi mo basta-basta i-uuproot ang isang tao, isang pamilya, nang hindi mo inuunawa ano ‘yong sitwasyon niya. Meron ba yang nag-aaral? Para may school ba na sasalo sa kanya? Anong grade? So the necessary documentation has been done or has been done,” Gatchalian said.
Another 36 families will receive rental subsidies for six months while waiting for their permanent housing.
The DSWD earlier reported that 94 families were living under the highway. It said some are now “unlocated” after leaving the area, while others failed to submit the required documents.
The NHA also found that some families had already benefited from government housing in the past.
NHA General Manager Joeben Tai said some beneficiaries were previously given housing units in Laguna but later sold them, while some units were occupied by their relatives.
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“Kaya nga po pinaalalaan ko po sila na sana huwag po nila ibibenta dahil sayang po yung bahay. At hindi na po sila makakaulit sa NHA ‘pag ito po ay kanilang ibenta,” he said.
The Manila LGU will monitor the area under Osmeña Highway and other declared “danger zones” to prevent people from returning to live there.
The relocation is targeted for completion by September 30.
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