CAPIZ – With the help of private individuals, the Capiz Provincial Police Office (CPPO) managed to build 67 houses for select “poorest of the poor” beneficiaries of its “Bahaynihan” community outreach project.
“Bahaynihan”, which means “Bahay Nila Handog kag Kabuhayan, Handog Namin” is the brainchild of then CPPO director Colonel Julio Gustilo Jr. and sustained by his predecessor, current Capiz police director Colonel Laudemer Llaneta.
Of the 67 houses, 64 have already been turned over to the beneficiaries.
Construction of the three other houses is ongoing.
The project evolved from the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Adopt-a Family Program (Kapwa Ko Sagot Ko).
It aimed not only to provide shelter and livelihood to the homeless and poorest of the poor much affected by the coronavirus pandemic in areas with high crime incidence but also to reduce crime incidence in Capiz by addressing poverty.
Gustilo earlier shared to Panay News they personally checked the situation on the ground while they were distributing food packs during the early part of the pandemic last year. They met indigent families that endured living in makeshift houses.
“In the course sang amon pagpanghatag sang food packs, nakita namon ang sitwasyon sang puloy-an sang amon ginatagaan. Ang hambal ko, bisan ano pa ka namit nga pagkaon ang ila mabaton kon naga-istar sila sa indi maayo nga lugar, gubaon nga balay kag busloton ang atop, indi man sila gihapon malipay kon maulanan sila kag nagatulo ang ila balay…ang iban gani kon mag-ulan todo, nagabaha sa sulod sang ila panimalay,” said Gustilo.
He added: “Nagsulod sa akon ang idea nga kon pwede matagaan naton sila bisan gamay lang nga balay para mangin disente man kag komportable sila.”
CPPO’s Bahaynihan started with one house for the family of Joel Dacillo Sr. of Barangay Poblacion Ilawod, Pontevedra, Capiz. The launching was held on April 23, 2020.
The first family recipient also received a sari-sari store livelihood package on April 27, 2020 through the voluntary contributions of CPPO personnel, support of local leaders and benevolent individuals.
The whole CPPO police force chipped in time and effort to build the house.
“Una-una nagpatindog kami sang amon lang gid ya, halin gid sa amon nga initiative,” Gustilo said.
Inspired by the success of their very first project, Gustilo urged the 17 municipal police stations and Roxas City Police station to replicate it in their respective areas or to adopt one indigent family (for each police station).
Gustilo said the kindness and trust of their donors made it possible for the Bahaynihan project to alleviate the plight of poor beneficiaries.
On Aug. 6, 2020 during the 119th Police Service Anniversary, the CPPO was cited by the PNP for the Bahaynihan project./PN
