IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay, Feb 03 (PIA)  – Former rebels (FRs) beneficiaries of the housing project of the national government will soon get hold of the keys to their very own homes.

National Housing Authority (NHA)-9 reported that the 110 units Housing Project in Barangay Mirangan, Siay town, Zamboanga Sibugay, is on its 35 percent completion and will soon be turned over to its rightful owners once construction is completed.

This housing project is an effort of the Duterte Administration under the End Local Communist Arm Conflict (ELCAC) program, a whole of nation approach in rebuilding the lives of former New Peoples Army (NPA) combatants.

Senior Community Support Services Officer of NHA Zamboanga District Hanzel Hoffdahl said, the total project cost for the said 110 housing units is Php49,999,609.94 and is expected to be completed within 300 days.

“Permanent and decent housing/shelter is a basic right of every Filipino. However, marginalized sectors in Zamboanga Peninsula, especially the indigenous people in areas formerly influenced and/or threatened by the communist-terrorist groups (CTGs) have the least access to the housing services of the government," he said.

Hoffdhal said that the NHA’s housing assistance programs is aimed at alleviating the standard of living of low-income families and marginalized communities and to encourage the communities to denounce communist ideologies and influence and to condemn the CPP-NPA NDF for their atrocities and the threat of armed-conflict.

He said, at present, the whole of government and the whole of nation approaches under the present administration is positively impacting the lives of people in CTG-influenced or threatened areas as basic services are now reaching communities, which before, are inaccessible for service delivery.

“NHA is a witness to the gradual development and progress in these areas as partner NGAs, Provincial Governments, LGUs, the PNP and the AFP are actively supporting the objectives in implementing their sovereign mandate to the people in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC),” the senior community support services officer said.

Hoffdal is confident to assess that due to the approaches and initiative of the government, more and more individuals and communities are denouncing communist ideologies and are sincerely showing support to the government in favor of peace, progress and development in their localities.

“The authority is confident that the effective and efficient implementation of E-CLIP and ELCAC projects will be sustained though the active involvement, collective effort and support of the agencies and the community people. E-CLIP and ELCAC MUST go on regardless of Administration,” Hoffdhal concluded. (RVC/JPA/Zamboanga Sibugay)