Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Tuesday said the Aquino Administration will earmark P4.2 billion to build 20,000 houses for low-salaried members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) as part of improving the welfare of government employees.
Ochoa said President Benigno Aquino III signed Administrative Order No. 9 on April 11, creating the AFP/PNP Housing Project, which involves the provision of permanent shelters for soldiers and policeman who will qualify under the beneficiaries selection criteria of the program.
“It is the policy of this administration to improve the welfare of government employees, including military and police personnel,” the Executive Secretary said.
“Providing decent and affordable shelter to soldiers and policemen is one way to carry out such policy, as we are aware that despite sincere efforts there are still a large number of military and police personnel whose need for housing provision must be urgently attended to,” Ochoa added.
Through this affordable and decent housing program, the administration hopes to give the military and police personnel, who put their lives at risk to uphold the laws of the land and maintain peace and order in the country, what is due them, he said.
Under AO 9, the National Housing Authority (NHA) takes the lead in the implementation of the housing program, which funding will also come from the housing authority.
Executive Order No. 90, put in place in December 1986, designates the NHA as responsible for the implementation of the government’s socialized housing under the National Shelter Program.
In line with this, the President’s directive orders the NHA to formulate, implement and manage the housing program for low-income armed forces and police personnel.#
