TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, January 20 (PIA) -- To jumpstart the Libreng Alagad ug Balay (LAB) Project for law abiding underprivileged Boholanos, Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado donated P320,000 to the Philippine National Police (PNP) here on January 10.

Turned over during the police provincial office command conference, the donation will help the police and volunteers in building low-cost but decent houses for poor Boholanos this early of the year, said Bohol Police Provincial Director Lorenzo A. Batuan during the recent Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting at the Capitol Ceremonial Hall.

Batuan said the LAB project is implemented in partnership with the provincial government, the Dioceses of Tagbilaran and Talibon through its Balay sa Gugma project, congressional representatives, law enforcement agencies, business sector,  religious institutions, youth and civil society volunteers.

The project aims to provide decent shelter to selected beneficiaries from less fortunate families who have been God fearing and law abiding, said Batuan.

The houses, costing between P60,000 to P70,000, is funded by police partners, business organizations, establishments, and generous individuals.

The labor counterpart is provided by church volunteers from the diocese and volunteers from the police force and the community, shared Lt. Col. Norman Nuez in an interview during the Kapihan sa PIA program.

Built on a 6x10 to 7x10-meter floor area, each house has bedrooms, a living room, dining, and a kitchen.

Last year, the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) turned over 12 houses when they started building in May.

Five of the new houses were built for beneficiaries from District I, three for District 2,  and two for District 3.

The identified beneficiaries are families who were badly hit by the earthquake and typhoon Odette in 2013.

The houses are located in the following areas: Poblacion Norte, Carmen, Lapacan Sur Buenavista, Zamora Talibon, Campatud Loon, San Isidro Mabini, Soom Trinidad, Mayacabac Dauis, Mahayag Norte Catigbian, Maitum Catigbian, Bagacay-Cawayan in Loon, Imelda in Duero and Nahud in Danao.

Both the governor and his wife, Congresswoman Vanessa Aumentado, have been among the top contributors to the project.

Police personnel at BPPO also allocate some of their monthly pay for the project through a pledging system, Nuez added.

Project LAB is part of the Kasimbayanan Programs implemented by the Police Community Affairs and Development Unit.

Other than Project LAB, the police are also implementing Generous Officers Offering Desirable Deeds for a Genuine Community Orient Programs and Services (GOOD COPS).  (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)