Uniformed personnel in Bohol benefit from NHA housing program

Houses built by the government await members of the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Bureau of Corrections in Barangay Songculan in Dauis town, Bohol. (Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas)

DAUIS, Bohol – At least 100 policemen and other uniformed personnel here received houses from the government’s housing program on Friday.

Marcelino Sumaylo Escalada Jr., general manager of the National Housing Authority (NHA), said the St. Michael Village in Dauis town is under the agency’s housing program which started in 2016.

While at least 350 units were finished back then, no one occupied the houses since the place had no electricity and running water, among others.

“It’s small, far, and ugly,” said Escalada.

President Rodrigo Duterte, he said, instructed the NHA to improve the place.

Escalada said the housing program was aimed to provide decent and affordable housing to personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP), and the Bureau of Corrections.

The St. Michael Village has 500 housing units built in Barangay Songculan, Dauis town with a budget of P136.45 million.

At least 350 units have been completed, while construction of the 150 units will start soon.

The president instructed the NHA to increase the lot size of each house from 40 to 80 square meters and the floor size from 20 to 60 square meters with two bedrooms.

“This is to address privacy, decency, and secrecy in the domestic activities,” said Escalada.

The beneficiaries will pay P200 monthly for the first five years and P1,330 per month until the 25th year.

Jail Officer 1 Glicerio Beniga Salamaña Jr., one of the beneficiaries, said he wanted to have his own home since he and his wife are staying at his mother’s house.

“This is for our future,” he said.

/MUF