TACLOBAN CITY — Twelve housing units will soon be built in three towns of Eastern Samar to help former rebels rebuild their lives under the government’s “Saad nga Balay” housing program.
Five units each are set for construction in Can-avid and Dolores, and two in Maslog, funded with P4.2 million from the Philippine Army Finance Center Producers Integrated Cooperative (PAFCPIC). The homes are intended for ex-rebels who are undergoing reintegration into mainstream society.
A groundbreaking and memorandum of agreement signing were held at the G-Park Covered Court in Can-avid, led by the 801st Infantry Brigade under Col. Arlino Sendaydiego, together with local chief executives from the three towns.
Col. Sendaydiego described the project as more than a housing initiative, calling it a “symbol of hope, transformation, and renewed trust” between government and communities. “We are proud to stand alongside our partners in providing former rebels the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity and stability,” he said.
PAFCPIC president BGen Fernando Zabat (ret.) said their cooperative funded the project believing that “true peace begins when people are given the chance to rebuild their lives.” He called the housing program “a symbol of hope, second chances, and a brighter future.”
The “Saad nga Balay” initiative, first implemented in San Jose de Buan, Samar, under the 801st Brigade’s leadership, continues to expand across Eastern Visayas. It represents a collaborative effort between the military, local governments, and PAFCPIC to support former rebels and strengthen peace and development in the region.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
