BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) turned over 20 housing units to members of the Kapatiran Peace and Development Community (PDC) in Sitio Mabinay, Barangay Locotan, Kabankalan City recently.
The turnover of the 20 single detached core shelters to the former rebel group and ground breaking for the second phase of the housing project also to be built on government property was led by Defense Undersecretary Cesar Yano, Kabankalan City Mayor Pedro Zayco Jr., military and police officials and those from other key government agencies.
The officials also inaugurated the newly installed rain water collector for the 20 housing units that were turned over in Kabankalan City.
The housing project is being implemented by the Department of National Defense/Armed Forces of the Philippines thru CENTCOM, which tasked 53rd Engineer Brigade of the Philippine Army as the project administrator and the 542nd Engineer Construction Battalion as project implementer in coordination with the Provincial Government of Negros Oriental, OPAPP and other local representatives in the area.
Col. Proceso Rebancos, 53rd Engineer Brigade commander, said 41 additional housing units will be constructed in Kabankalan during the implementation of the second tranche of the project.
The recipients of the 20 housing projects were given 16 carabaos and commodity store projects worth P1 million during the turnover rites.
Zayco said he has allocated P18 million for the concreting of the road going to the site, while the Department of Social Services and Development has provided the Kapatiran members financial assistance of P3,000 each.
Yano reminded the Kapatiran members that not all Filipinos were given the same opportunity as them. So, he hopes they will become productive families to help them rise above poverty. Their children should also be sent to school since education is the greatest equalizer.
Anything is possible if everyone cooperates and helps each other, he added.
Rudy Traso, Kapatiran-Kabankalan Chapter head, said the government has proven that it is sincere in its desire to help them after gave up the arm struggle.
Aside from the 20 housing units turned over in Kabankalan, OPPAP also turned over 14 units in San Miguel, Tanjay, Neg. Occ., and 16 units in Capiz.
Maj. Gen. Gerardo Catindoy, AFP Chief Engineer, said that aside from the housing projects implemented in Kabankalan and Tanjay, there are over 400 houses units to be implemented in Cadiz, Cauayan, and San Carlos pending the release of funds from the Department of Budget and Management.
The release of development fund for the implementation of impact development projects for communities identified by the Rebolusyunaryo ng Partido ng Manggagawang-Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM/RPA/ABB) is provided under the peace agreement entered into between the Philippine Government with the revolutionary group.*
