TALISAY CITY, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday launched the P1-billion housing project for at least 1,000 uniformed personnel — police, military, firefighters, and jail guards — at Barangay Dos Hermanas in Talisay City of Negros Occidental.
The housing project, called Vista Alegre Homes, has a land area of about 15 hectares where 1,000 house and lot units will be developed in the next two years: 450 for military personnel, 450 for police officers, and 100 for members of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the Bureau of Fire Protection.
“This project is a testament of the government’s commitment to address the housing needs of our people, particularly those who risk their lives to serve our country with utmost courage and integrity,” Duterte said in his speech during the time capsule-laying an groundbreaking rites for the project.
The President arrived at the site at past 5 p.m. with AFP Chief General Carlito Galvez, PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council chairman Eduardo Del Rosario, National Housing Authority general manager Marcelino Escalada Jr., and Talisay City Mayor Neil Jesus Antonio Lizares III.
Duterte said: “To the brave men and women of the AFP and the PNP, I assure you that this administration will remain resolute in promoting your welfare. May (the) launching of this project inspire all of you to continue to advocate supporting government’s campaign and advocacies in uplifting the lives of our citizens and creating a safer and more secure nation for all Filipinos.”
Escalada, for his part, said the project is expected to be completed by March 2019. He said the housing units will be “very affordable” with a package price of only P1.1 million to P1.2 million compared to those sold by private developers, which price range from P1.9 million to P2.2 million.
The housing units were made “affordable” as Duterte directed the NHA to give each of the uniformed personnel a discount of P100,000, which will be charged to the Office of the President, Escalada said. “Easily they can pay the monthly amortization of P4,900 to P5,100.”
Escalada said each of the duplex-type housing units will have a lot size of 80 square meters and a floor area of 60 square meters.
The Vista Alegre Homes is the fifth housing project of the National Housing Authority under the new AFP/PNP Housing Program. The four others are in Davao City, Tarlac City, Lanao del Norte, and Bulacan. (FREEMAN)