EXECUTIVE Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Tuesday said the Aquino Administration will
earmark P4.2 billion to build 20,000 houses for low-salaried members of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) as part of improving the welfare of
government employees.
Ochoa said President Benigno Aquino III signed Administrative Order No. 9 on April 11,
creating the AFP/PNP Housing Project, which involves the provision of permanent shelters
for soldiers and policemen who will qualify under the beneficiaries selection criteria of the
program.
“It is the policy of this administration to improve the welfare of government employees,
including military and police personnel,” the Executive Secretary said.
“Providing decent and affordable shelter to soldiers and policemen is one way to carry out
such policy, as we are aware that despite sincere efforts there are still a large number of
military and police personnel whose need for housing provision must be urgently attended
to,” Ochoa added.
Through this affordable and decent housing program, the administration hopes to give the
military and police personnel, who put their lives at risk to uphold the laws of the land and
maintain peace and order in the country, what is due them, he said.
Under AO 9, the National Housing Authority (NHA) takes the lead in the implementation of
the housing program, which funding will also come from the housing authority.
Executive Order No. 90, put in place in December 1986, designates the NHA as responsible
for the implementation of the government’s socialized housing under the National Shelter
Program. (PCOO)
