First of 17 condo buildings for Metro cops unveiled

President Arroyo has unveiled the first of the 17 condominium buildings intended for the housing needs of the country’s policemen and their families.

Homeless Metro Manila policemen would be the first occupants of the building located in the 42-hectare Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

Deputy Director General Jesus Verzosa, PNP housing board chairman, said the housing plan for policemen is part of the force’s Integrated Transformation Program (ITP). A total of 944 policemen are expected to benefit from the program.

“One of the thrusts of the PNP-ITP is to provide decent shelter to the policemen and their dependents through the PNP housing program in consonance with the thrust of the President in providing decent and affordable shelter to the homeless Filipino people,” Verzosa said.

Verzosa said four more condominiums are under construction while funds are still being prepared for the construction of the 12 remaining buildings, also in Camp Bagong Diwa. The PNP needs at least P500 million for the 12 buildings, he said.

Supporting the housing project are the Gawad Kalinga, Armed Forces of the Philippines Savings and Loan Association Inc. and some alumni of the Philippine Military Academy and the Philippine National Police Academy.

A recent survey on the police housing situation showed that 57 percent or 67,489 policemen do not own houses. Of the homeless policemen, 31 percent are assigned in Metro Manila.

There are existing medium-rise condominiums and apartment buildings for PNP officers.

Aside from the Camp Bagong Diwa Quartering Project, other housing projects for 2008 are the Camp Panopio Development Project, San Miguel, Bulacan Housing Project, Camp Castañeda Quartering Project in Silang, Cavite, and the Baras, Rizal Development Project. – Jaime Laude