TAGUM CITY -- A total of 375 housing units worth P168 million is now being built by the National Housing Authority (NHA) intended for former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who surrendered to the government under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
NHA general manager Marcelino Escalada, Jr. on Friday, October 5, presented to the media the housing units called Freedom Residences, a free house and lot package in Barangay Cuambogan, Tagum City, Davao del Norte. They chose the location being ideal for former rebels coming from different provinces.
One unit has a total land area of 40 square meters (sqm) while the ground floor area has 22 sqm and the loft has 11 sqm.. Each unit is equipped with comfort room, front yard, backyard, tiled floor and can stand a 7.2 magnitude earthquake and 275 kilometer per hour wind.
This is the first former rebels (FR) housing project in the country and Escalada is eyeing to have another one in Bukidnon or Cagayan de Oro and in northern Luzon where there is a high number of surrenderees.
He said that a total of 50 units will be partially turned over by the end of the month to the beneficiaries while all remaining units are targeted to be completed by next year. This housing program is part of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (EClip).
He also said that they communicated with Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapago, head of EClip program of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), in identifying the first 50 beneficiaries. The list, however, is not yet available.
“The whole project started three years ago, I scaled it up instead of having this to be awarded to other beneficiaries since the need for housing for FR is immediate and urgent, I converted this into housing for FR,” Escalada said.
The Freedom Residences has a covered court and they will disallow putting up of sari-sari store so as not mess up the entrance but they’d encourage them to form a cooperative and have a wet and dry market where they could sell their products instead.
This developed in response to the directive of the President to provide these rebel returnees a decent home after going down from the hinterland. This is also seen to entice more rebels to return to the folds of the law.
These housing units is erected in a five-hectare property and each unit costs P450,000.
After the houses has been completed, he said that the Department of Trade and Industry will come in, the Agriculture will also be there and other member agencies to provide livelihood support, employment and income-generating activities.