Kin of killed, wounded soldiers to get free housing units — official

Families of killed or wounded soldiers and policemen, including those who fell in Marawi City, are entitled to receive free housing units under the new Armed Forces of the Philippines - Philippine National Police Housing Program.

A report on GMA News TV's Balitanghali said beneficiaries who do not own a house will be given two housing units worth P450,000, while those who own a property will be given one housing unit, also worth P450,000.

Those whose houses need repair, meanwhile, will be given P100,000.

The housing units will either be a duplex, or a house with apartments for two families, or a unit in a low-rise building, depending on the housing location.

The housing program will cover Davao City, Bulacan, Iligan, La Union, Tarlac, Zamboanga, Baguio City and Davao Oriental.

The families of government forces killed in action will be prioritized, while those of wounded in action will take longer, owing to the process of verification.

"So far, ang dami nang nag-avail...ng within our property, within the AFP-PNP Phase One. And some of them are awaiting for the new AFP-PNP Housing Program," said Susana Nonato, architect of the program.

As of Sunday, 165 soldiers and police officers have been killed in action in Marawi.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Monday declared combat operations in the besieged city terminated, ending five months of fighting between government troops and the Maute-ISIS terror group.  — Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/RSJ, GMA News