Fifty of the planned 375 housing units will be initially turned over to the former rebels at the five-hectare Freedom Residences in Barangay Cuambongan, Tagum City in mid-February, according to the National Housing Authority.
In a recent interview, NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada said they will have a partial turnover anytime with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu, and Philippine Army chief, Lt. Gen. Macairog Alberto.
“They are excited,” Escalda said, adding that Alberto himself inspected the other units.
“These are rebel returnees coming from Davao Oriental and Surigao Del Sur and other areas,” he said. “So they want to live in Tagum then they can live in Tagum. It’s nice here.”
Last October, the NHA conducted an inspection of the area.
Escalada said 50 of the 375 units will be initially turned over to recipients, who are former rebels from Davao Oriental, Agusan Del Sur, Agusan Del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, parts of Compostela Valley province, and Davao del Norte.
The Freedom Residences is a secured subdivision-type housing project, with each unit costing P450,000.
He said each unit is tiled with 22 square meter floor area and 11 square meters for the loft. The beneficiary will just have to apply personally for individual water and electricity connections.
“It is also the first housing project of President Duterte for the former rebels,” he added. “The first 50 beneficiaries have been fully evaluated by the government through the Expanded-Comprehensive Local Evaluation Program (e-CLIP).”
