Since 2018, the National Housing Authority has continuously committed itself to maintain peace throughout the country by providing shelters to rebel returnees or former rebels (FRs) as part of their community reintegration.

During the September 1, 2022 National Peace Consciousness Month opening program,with the theme “Pagkakaisa at Paghilom: Isang Bansa para sa Kapayapaan,” the NHA set up an exhibit booth which featured and highlighted various housing projects for FRs nationwide. On the same occasion, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (PAPRU) Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. thanked the NHA for its consistent support and housing provision to returnees. “Ang NHA ang nagbibigay sa atin ng pabahay para sa former rebels. Maraming salamat po NHA sa inyong programang pabahay na binigay sa aming Kapatiran. Nakita natin na napakaganda ng pakiramdam ng isang former rebel na magkaroon ng sariling bahay na matutuluyan,” praised Sec. Galvez in an interview.

As one of the members of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and Task Force Balik-Loob (TFBL), the NHA has provided housing assistance to some 1,092 beneficiaries across the country to aid surrenderees in their reintegration. Through the NHA’s Housing Program for Former Rebels, returnees have three options for housing assistance, namely:

• Option A: Provision of ready-for-occupancy housing units from converted AFP/PNP Housing Units

• Option B: P450,000 housing assistance for constructing new housing units of FRs in their chosen location.

• Option C: P100,000 funding support for repairs and renovations of existing housing units of FRs

Currently, the NHA has released a total of P495,217,976.88 funding to regional offices for the construction of housing units and financial assistance for FRs who have returned from their respective communities.

From 2018 to 2022, the NHA assisted a total of 546 FRs. Of these numbers, 489 chose to be relocated to NHA housing project sites in Tagum, Bukidnon, and Cagayan de Oro. 57 received cash assistance for constructing and renovating their existing housing units. At the same time, the 546 FRs await the completion of their housing units in Isabela, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and in Leyte.

“Indigenous People and Former Rebel Housing Program is a back-to-back program of the NHA to end the local insurgency. IP Housing helps end the recruitment of our beloved IP brothers and sisters, while FR Housing aims to support the new beginnings of the FRs who return to the government’s fold. Also, it is a manifestation that NHA is true to its mission in addressing the housing needs of the homeless and marginalized sector in which IPs and FRs belong,” said NHA Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and FR National Program Coordinator Engr. Jessa M. Consuegra.

The NHA not only caters to CPP-NPA-NDF but also to Kapatiran members. As of September 15, 2022, the FR Housing Program extended support to 24 Kapatiran members from Naic, Cavite, and 14 Kapatiran members from Region 10. They received an enhanced housing unit worth P450,000 each.

For 2023, the NHA plans to build eight (8) new projects composed of 810 housing units across the country. The said target housing production requires a funding allotment of P349 million.