■ DUTERTE ORDERS HOUSING PROJECT FOR AFP AND PNP PERSONNEL IN MANDAUE

Presidente Rodrigo Duterte ordered the National Housing Authority (NHA) to provide housing units to Armed Forces of the Philipines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel in Mandaue City. NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr. said the President gave the order when he presented to Duterte his agency’s low-rise housing project for informal settlers in Barangay Looc, Mandaue City. Escalada was with the President when he attended Mandaue City’s 49th Charter Day celebration last Thursday. “The President, before he entered the court, he made an instruction that he will also give housing units for both AFP and PNP in Mandaue City,” Escalada told Mandauehanons during the Charter Day program at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex. He did not say how many housing units they will build and how many military and police officers will benefit from the proposed project. He also did not identify the area where the housing project will rise. “It’s a good development as it is so expensive to have a lot in the urban areas and to include us in the socialized housing, it is very much advantageous to us and a manifestation of the president’s concern to the PNP and AFP,” PSSupt. Jullian Entoma, the Mandaue City Police Office chief, said when sought for comment. For his part, Mayor Luigi Quisumbing assured that he will look for a property for the NHA project. Aside from the housing for informal settlers, the NHA will also build a medium-rise housing project for Mandaue City Government employees in Barangay Labogon.