17 FRs in AgNor to receive housing units from NHA
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN
CITY -- Some 17 former rebels (FRS) from the province of Agusan del Norte
will receive free housing units from the government.
Through
draw lots, the first batch of FR-beneficiaries was assigned one housing unit
each from the National Housing Authority (NHA) where they will live with their
families whom they reunited with following their surrender.
Alias
Ren, who has a child, looks forward to living in their new house within a safe
community in Barangay Del Pilar, Cabadbaran City, where the housing project is
situated.
“I
could now experience real peace and happiness, which is priceless because now
I'm able to experience the good intentions of our government,” said alias
Ren.
Elvis
Sublay, a Mamanwa who was in the Communist Party of the Philippines – New
People’s Army (CPP-NPA) for eight years, is now a government soldier and is
sincerely serving the country. He is thankful to the government and called
those who are still in the communist-terrorist group (CTG) to surrender in
order to live a peaceful life.
“To
all those who are still hiding in the mountains, I hope they will have the
courage to surrender to the government and end the armed conflict in our
country,” Sublay said.
It was also learned that each housing unit is worth PhP450,000. Thirty-four (34) more housing units are already being processed for the second batch of FR-beneficiaries. A total of 109 housing units are expected to be put in place for the said project.
Meanwhile,
following the recently uncovered high-powered firearms of the NPA during an
operation by the 29th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, Col Jason Saldua,
commander of 29IB, stressed that this is a manifestation that many of the
locals including the members of the CPP-NPA have now realized the senseless
cause and ruthless acts of the CTGs.
“I am thankful to all our concerned citizens who helped us by providing information in order for us to locate the four high-powered firearms and one Improvised Explosive Device,” bared Saldua. (JPG/NCLM/PIA-Caraga)
