• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The 101 former members of the defunct Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA/ABB) in Negros Occidental will soon have permanent homes in Bago City and E.B. Magalona town.
The provision of free house and lot to members of the breakaway rebel group, now known as Kapatiran, was stipulated in the peace agreement they signed with the national government almost 26 years ago in Don Salvador Benedicto.
Former Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Stephen Joseph Paduano, who previously served as the national commander of the RPA-ABB, and Susana Guadalope Marcaida, executive director for Peace Sustainability Cluster of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), and Mayor Marina Javellana-Yao led the groundbreaking ceremony for the Kapatiran South Cluster 1 Housing Project in Barangay Napoles, Bago City.
The P28-million housing project, which is funded by the OPAPRU and implemented by the National Housing Authority, aims to provide free housing and lots to till to each of the 33 families of former RPA-ABB combatants.
Each unit stands on a 150-square meter lot with a 28-square meter floor area.
The one-hectare private lot was purchased by the government.
Ricky Guzon, director of Kapatiran Workers Association, said each house and lot unit costs P850,000.
Guzon said the housing development is being undertaken by Hummingbird Construction and Supply Corp. and implemented through the Community-Based Initiative Approach in partnership with Kapatiran-South Cluster 1.
Meanwhile, 71 other former rebels in the Kapatiran North Sector are also availing of free housing units on a one-hectare lot in Barangay Damgo, E.B. Magalona.
The ground breaking rites for the P60.3-million housing project led by Mayor Matthew Louis Malacon and OPAPRU officials headed by Marcaida was also held on Thursday.
The first Kapatiran housing project was established in Barangay Locotan, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
A similar housing project for Kapatiran members was also established in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental while two more housing communities are being finalized in Cadiz City and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental. | GB
