AFP, PNP say they weren’t consulted on housing sites

Both the military and police on Tuesday said they were not consulted by the National Housing Authority (NHA) on the housing sites awarded to their personnel.

Representatives of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) denied during a Senate committee hearing that they were consulted on their housing preferences as claimed by the NHA.

The Senate committee on urban planning, housing and resettlement launched an investigation on the government’s housing program following the forced occupation of urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) of housing units in Bulacan.

According to NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr., five of the total seven socialized housing sites in Bulacan are intended for informal settlers in Metro Manila, while the other two are for the personnel of the AFP and PNP with the lowest three ranks.

The NHA said that a total of 5,278 housing units in seven government housing sites in Pandi town have been illegally occupied by Kadamay members.

Asked if there is anyone who should be held accountable on Kadamay’s occupation of all seven sites, Escalada said the NHA has done its part in so far as the turnover of awarded housing units to the AFP and PNP.

Architect Susan Nato of the NHA even said that both the AFP and PNP were consulted on their “housing preferences” back in 2011 before Phase 1 was started.

The AFP, through Lt. Col. Vilorna Cabral, however denied they were consulted.

Lt. Col. Leonido Yanson of the AFP Housing Board added that their personnel have not occupied their awarded homes as they are always assigned in the field.

“[They also] lack the funds to improve the house. Of course, our personnel want to improve first the awarded houses prior to their occupancy,” Yanson said.

Supt. Antonio Taylan, director of the PNP Engineering Service, said they were also “never informed about the design.”

Taylan said the 22 square-meter housing units are “too small” and are “not enough for a family.”

Senator JV Ejercito pointed out that the international standard is seven square meters per person.

“So kung 22 [sq. m.] lang, tatlong tao lang lagpas na. Nakatayo na sila matulog,” Ejercito, chairman of the Senate committee, said. —ALG, GMA News