Turnover of a new house to Mansueta Villeza Lachica by Jamindan, Capiz police chief Police Major Cherryl Visto and Mayor Mac Artur Valdemar. 
Inauguration
CAPIZ – Helping the poorest of the poor in this time of pandemic can be more than just distributing food packs.
The Capiz Provincial Police Office (CPPO) is building them houses.
The initiative “Bahaynihan” is a brainchild of CPPO director Police Colonel Julio Gustilo Jr. inspired by the Philippine National Police (PNP) project Adopt-a-Family.
The goal is broad: provide shelter and livelihood to the homeless or poorest of the poor in areas much affected by the coronavirus pandemic and with high crime incidence.
“While distributing food packs last year, we noticed the very dilapidated state of our beneficiaries’ houses. The roofs leaked. They practically had no floor, family members slept on the ground. They were very uncomfortable. We realized we could do more, so why not build houses for them, even just a small one, so they could live more comfortably,” Gustilo told Panay News.
Through voluntary contributions of CPPO personnel, local leaders and benevolent individuals, they started with one house for the family of Joel Dacillo Sr. of Barangay Poblacion Ilawod, Pontevedra town on April 27, 2020.
Encouraged by the result, Gustilo urged 17 municipal police stations and the Roxas City police station to replicate the CPPO’s “Bahaynihan”.
To date, “Bahaynihan” had built 60 houses for the province’s poorest families.
“Benevolent individuals appreciate the noble purpose of this project so they help us,” said Gustilo.
The 60 houses were built by the following police units:
* CPPO headquarters – five
* Jamindan – nine
* Dao – nine
* Panay – four
* Roxas City – three
* Pontevedra – three
* Ivisan – three
* Sigma – three
* Dumarao – three
* Dumalag – two
* Panitan – two
* Pilar – two
* Mambusao – two
* Cuartero – two
* Tapaz – two
* President Roxas – two
* Maayon – one
* Sapian – one
* 1st Mobile Force Company – one
* 2nd Mobile Force Company – one
With its positive impact on the lives of beneficiaries, “Bahaynihan” was dubbed a “best practice” program of the CPPO recognized by the PNP national headquarters and the Police Regional Office 6.
Gustilo hoped it would be replicated throughout Western Visayas or even throughout the country./PN
