President Rodrigo Duterte led the awarding of 640 housing units to qualified government employees here on Thursday afternoon.

“I proudly congratulate the National Housing Authority (NHA) for completing the project despite the challenges faced during the Covid-19,” President Duterte said.

Providing low-cost housing is one way of giving back to the uniformed personnel and public servants, he said.

Marcelino Escalada Jr.,NHA general manager, said the 640 units in Madayaw Residences come in two options– one has a floor area of 42 square meters, while the other has a floor area of 36 square meters.

Among the qualified applicants are personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Corrections, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and other regular government employees both from local and national offices.

Escalada said all disposed units are duplex-type that have two bedrooms, two toilets and a bath, living, dining, kitchen and garage area.

The Madayaw Residences, he said, is the first low-rise government-constructed residential building outside Metro Manila.

Monthly amortization is as low as PHP5,000 for the first year and payable within a maximum of 30 years, depending on the applicant’s age.

“Owning a dream house is now a reality for our homeless government workers. We hope and pray that blessings will be poured into your family as you live in these units,” Escalada said.

In Region 11, Escalada said there are six Government Employees Housing Programs being implemented– three are in this city, and one each in Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur. (PNA)