President Benigno S. Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay Friday turned over 21,800 housing units to soldiers and police officers in commemoration of the 26th EDSA People Power Revolution.
Binay, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, said the project intends to improve the lives of the uniformed personnel and their families.
“Ayon sa ilang mga pag-aaral, marami sa mga kawani ng sandatahang lakas at kapulisan ang wala pang sariling bahay. Ang marami pa nga sa kanila ay maihahanay natin sa mga informal settlers,” Binay said.
“Dahil dito, nakita ng ating mahal na Pangulo na kailangang magkaroon ng programang magbibigay ng permanenteng pabahay sa ating mga sundalo at pulis – para na rin mapabuti ang kalagayan ng kanilang mga mahal sa buhay,” he added.
Aquino last year issued Administrative Order No. 9 directing the National Housing Authority (NHA) to implement a program to address the housing need of low-salaried personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
HUDCC and NHA built Phase I of the project, which included 9,000 units in four sites in San Jose del Monte, Bocaue and Norzagaray, Bulacan; 4,274 units in three sites located in Biñan and Calamba, Laguna; 4,526 units in four sites located in General Trias and Trece Martirez, Cavite and 4,000 units in two sites located in Baras and Rodriguez, Rizal.
“Ang Phase 1 ng proyektong ito ay naglalayong magbigay ng pabahay para sa mga kawani ng AFP at PNP na nakadestino sa NCR,” the Vice President said.
The NHA aims to construct this year 31,200 housing units for the second phase of the AFP-PNP housing program. Of this, 13,200 units will be in Luzon, 7,000 units in the Visayas, and 11,000 units in Mindanao.
The agency is also considering the possibility of expanding the project coverage to AFP and PNP retirees, pending directive from Aquino.
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