10,000 cops get decent housing

MANILA, Philippines - Over 10,000 members of the Philippine National Police now enjoy decent housing, in line with the organization’s efforts to improve the living standards of its members, according to the PNP leadership.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said that the housing program for police personnel nationwide is one of the top priorities of the PNP-Integrated Transformation Program, designed to transform the police force into a more capable, effective and efficient public servant.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said there was a significant improvement in the housing programs of the PNP.

In March 2009, 52,498 policemen or 43.75 percent of the 125,000 police personnel were in dire need of decent shelter while 60 percent, ranked between police officer 1 (PO1) to police officer 3 (PO3), live below the poverty line, according to the PNP.

“There was about 20 percent decrease in the number of policemen who were informal dwellers,” said Espina.

“In our housing program, we make sure that our policemen will pay low interest. Most of our people have been pulled out from their informal dwelling, from the quagmire,” he said. The PNP chief has been personally overseeing the development of PNP housing projects, including the ongoing construction of the twin 4-storey residential quarters for Quezon City Police District (QCPD) personnel.

The projected is expected to be completed on June 30.

Verzosa instructed the PNP Housing Board chaired by Deputy Director General Jefferson Soriano, PNP deputy chief for administration, to fast-track the completion of the project and make the building ready for occupancy by June 15.

Espina said the PNP has been closely coordinating with the government agencies and non-government organization for the housing program of PNP members.

“Gawad Kalinga has been helping the PNP (on housing programs for policemen) like the AFPSLAI (Armed Forces and Police Savings and Loan Association, Inc.), the PSMBFI (Public Safety Mutual Benefits Fund Inc.,” said Espina.

One of the PNP housing projects is located in Barangay Tartaro in San Miguel, Bulacan.

The housing project involving 400 hectares is part of the 1,600-hectare property allotted for the housing of military, police, teachers and government employees declared by President Arroyo in March 2006.

In December 2007, Mrs. Arroyo allocated P100 million for the Pulis Kalinga Quartering Project in Taguig.