Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 18) — The National Housing Authority (NHA) is giving soldiers and policemen up to June 15 of this year to occupy thousands of government-built houses which have remained vacant for nearly four years.
A total of 55,124 housing units awarded to low-ranking officers of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces have yet to be occupied as of March 2017, NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada told a Senate hearing on Tuesday.
Since some of these houses were completed as early as 2013, lawmakers said the NHA should have done something about the vacant units.
“Does the NHA give a deadline for the occupancy of the beneficiaries? Dapat na-red flag na kung di natitirhan (That should have been a red flag warning if these are not being occupied),” said Senator JV Ejercito, chairman of the Senate committee on urban planning, housing and resettlement.
NHA’s Escalada said his agency recently agreed to a deadline — May 30, but “subject to an extension of up to June 15.”
“I have set that as a deadline so that the NHA can move on,” Escalada said.
He added that by this time, the AFP and PNP should furnish the housing authority with a master list of personnel who are still interested in the units awarded to them.
If after June 15, a soldier or policeman fails to express his interest, “We might as well give these to the members of the qualified beneficiaries,” the chief of the NHA said.
The houses could be given to public school teachers, employees of local government units, barangay officials and functionaries, and informal settlers who would qualify for the housing program, Escalada proposed.
“This is also social injustice because there are those who are homeless but there are [houses] that have been constructed by NHA,” Escalada added.
The Senate is investigating the March 8 “takeover” of 24,000 members of urban group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) of houses in Pandi, Bulacan, which were originally meant for soldiers and policemen.
Read: KADAMAY members to fight eviction from Bulacan housing units
After a housing tug-of-war with authorities who threatened to evict Kadamay members, President Rodrigo Duterte on April 4 ordered the policemen and soldiers to give up their claims. He said he hopes the new housing units for law enforcers would be completed by December.
The NHA said Kadamay members have occupied over 5,000 housing units in seven sites in Pandi and San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan.
Kadamay chairperson Gloria Arellano called on the government to distribute all vacant housing units to the poor.
“Kung ayaw natin maulit ang nangyari sa Pandi, simple lang ang gawin. Ipamigay ang unit sa mga mahihirap, ngayon na (If we want to prevent this from happening again, it’s simple. Distribute units to the poor now),” Arellano said.
Bigger, better houses for PNP, AFP
Meanwhile, lawmakers quizzed PNP and AFP officials on why their personnel refuse to live in the NHA-built homes.
PCSupt. Antonio Taylan, director of PNP’s Engineering Service, said the houses were too small for the policemen’s families.
Lt. Col. Leonido Yanson of the AFP Housing Board said soldiers lack the funds needed to improve these houses.
Both officials said that contrary to NHA’s claim, the AFP and the PNP were never consulted prior to the construction of the houses for their personnel.
Meanwhile, the NHA said President Duterte has already approved the increase of the lot area and floor area of the housing units for law enforcers.
“As a result of this hearing, [we can] finally come up with a much better, much improved design for the AFP and PNP personnel,” Escalada said.
NHA Architect Susan Nonato said the housing units will have a lot area of 80 sq m instead of 40, and floor area of 44 sq m, instead of 22.
