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| PASILONG Housing Program: Building Safe and Sustainable Homes for Ilonggo Families |
The Iloilo City Government, under the leadership of Mayor Raisa Treñas, continues to advance its housing initiatives through the PASILONG: Pabalay para sa Pamilyang Ilonggo program—an inclusive, people-centered effort that ensures every Ilonggo family has a safe and dignified place to call home.
At the
heart of this program are four major housing projects, targeting informal
settlers and families living in danger zones and coastal areas, particularly
those frequently affected by floods, storm surges, and fires.
Four Major Housing Projects
Leading the
new developments is the Rise Batiano Village in Barangay West Habog-Habog,
which will provide 173 housing units for Ilonggo families—many of whom were
fire victims or residents of riverbanks and flood-prone zones. The city will
fund the site development and construction of the houses.
In
addition, three other projects form part of the PASILONG program:
- Uswag Residential Complex
- Uswag 4PH Condominium Complex in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro
- Westville Residences in Barangay Hibao-an, Mandurriao
Together,
these four projects will deliver more than 2,000 housing units for qualified
beneficiaries.
The
Westville Residences, with 86 units, is being developed in partnership with
Henber Realty Development Corporation as part of the company’s socialized
housing balance compliance.
Meanwhile,
the Uswag Residential Complex and Uswag 4PH Condominium Complex—with a combined
1,917 units—are joint ventures between the city government, Eon Realty and
Development Corp., and the National Housing Authority (NHA).
Prioritizing the Vulnerable
Mayor Raisa Treñas emphasized that relocation remains a top priority, especially given the increasing impacts of extreme weather.
“Pila na ka
bagyo ang na-experience naton sini nga tuig kag nakita gid naton ang epekto sang
baha kag storm surges especially sa mga coastal kag low-lying areas naton.
Tinguhaan gid natonnga ma-prioritize inisila,” said Mayor Treñas.
According
to Atty. Peter Jason Millare, head of the Iloilo City Local Housing Office
(ICLHO), said the city also gives priority to residents who will be displaced by
ongoing and future government infrastructure projects.
Beyond Shelter: Empowering Communities
True to its
name, Pasilong—which means “shelter” or “refuge”—goes beyond just building
houses. It’s a comprehensive housing and community development initiative that
promotes empowerment, sustainability, and inclusivity.
The program
is one of the 42 people-centered initiatives under the “Rising Livability”
action pillar of Mayor Treñas’ administration. It includes not only housing
construction but also:
- Organizing and empowering Homeowners Associations (HOAs)
- Establishing community-based livelihood programs through HOA-led cooperatives and Sustainable Livelihood Programs (SLPs)
- Developing talipapa centers and identifying community health facilities
Currently,
Iloilo City has 46 relocation and resettlement sites, with residents organized
into 55 HOAs, six federations, and one confederation. The city has also
purchased nearly 30,000 square meters of additional land to support upcoming
housing projects.
The PASILONG Housing Program reflects the city government’s vision of an inclusive and resilient Iloilo City, where progress means improving lives from the ground up. By investing not only in homes but in communities, Treñas and her administration continue to make Iloilo City a place where every Ilonggo family can truly feel at home.