Duterte distributes housing to uniformed personnel, workers

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte urged the next administration to continue embarking on projects that would make Filipinos “happy,” including providing decent shelter for low-income and marginalized Filipinos.

“I hope that the next administration will also continue the things that would make our people happy. Although not all, they see that we are doing something with the money of the people,” Duterte said in a speech during the ceremonial awarding of residential units to uniformed personnel, state workers and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in his hometown Davao City on Thursday.

Assisted by National Housing Authority (NHA) general manager Marcelino Escalada Jr., Duterte handed over the certificates of award and unit keys to 12 awardees representing the 640 beneficiaries of the Madayaw Residences units at the Kadayawan Homes in Talomo District.

“The Madayaw Residences is only one of the many housing projects pursued by the administration to realize its commitment to providing adequate, safe, secure, habitable, sustainable, resilient and affordable homes to the Filipino people,” the President said.

“The low-cost housing program is our way of giving back to the country’s hardworking uniformed personnel and civil servants,” he said.

The outgoing Chief Executive has urged the NHA to intensify its mandate of addressing the housing needs of the Filipino people, especially the homeless, marginalized and low-income families.

“I am confident that your steadfast efforts in the succeeding administration will redound to a more active, participative and productive society,” he said.

Recipients of NHA’s Madayaw Residences include personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Corrections, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy, OFWs and government workers.

The Madayaw Residences is one of the Proyektong Pabahay of the Duterte administration for government employees, OFWs and members of the uniformed services under NHA’s Government Employees Housing Program.

Aside from handing over residential units, the President also led the turnover of tactical sniper rifles to Philippine Army division commanders of the 1st Infantry Tabak Division, 6th Infantry Kampilan Division, 10th Infantry Agila Division and 11th Infantry Alakdan Division.

Also present during the event were Sen. Bong Go, senator-elect Joseph Victor Ejercito and AFP Eastern Mindanao Commander Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol.