By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A senior citizen now has a comfortable and safe place to stay after police officers and other stakeholders built a house for her in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.

According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Jonel Guadalupe, La Carlota City police chief, they chose the Quiyo couple as recipient of the Barangayanihan Pabahay project.

They first met the Quiyos last year through the police’s Kapwa, Sagot Ko program when they visited the couple and gave them food packs, Guadalupe said.

Elvisita Quiyo, 73, and her husband had been living in a house made of light materials.

Due to lack of finances, they were forced to live in the dilapidated house and were exposed to the elements.

“Ila balay kung mag ulan mag tulog sila ga tulo daw,” Guadalupe said.

With the eagerness to help, Guadalupe said the town police tapped stakeholders and barangay officials to help build a house for the couple.

It took them four months to finish the construction of the house, depending on the availability of the materials. Aside from that, Elvisita’s husband died of illness in April 2021.

Police provided some of the materials and manpower during the construction.

On July 24, Police Colonel Romy Palgue, director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), Guadalupe, Homer Bermudo, general manager of La Carlota City Water District, and city and barangay officials turned over the newly constructed concrete house to Mrs. Quiyo at Barangay Nagasi.

The provincial police force led by Palgue also gave her a sack of rice.

Quiyo thanked those who helped in the construction of the house.

“Salamat gid indi na kami matulog nga basa kung ga ulan,” she said.