Tokyo heroes get new houses

As promised, President Rodrigo Duterte awarded Hidilyn Diaz, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial with house and lot packages for leading the country to a historic campaign in the Tokyo Olympics last month.

Philippine Sports Commission chairperson William “Butch” Ramirez yesterday said he had been working with National Housing Authority general manager Marcelino Escalada for the past couple of weeks to immediately deliver the President’s promise to the four Olympic heroes.

The fully-furnished, two-storey houses are now ready for occupancy and would be turned over to Diaz and Marcial in Zamboanga City on 2 September while the turnover of the units of Petecio and Paalam in Davao City will be announced soon.

Escalada detailed that the units will have two bedrooms with a floor area of 60 square meters (sqms) and a lot area of 80 sqms. It will be tiled, painted and fully furnished complete with water and electricity lines.

The properties are in a community that has easy access to a wet and dry market, police outpost and other institutional services.

Ramirez expressed his happiness for the four medalists, saying that he hopes for more good things to come to them because they truly deserve it.

The sports chief added that he hopes this good fortune and success of the national athletes could “inspire a child somewhere to take up sports and one day take their turn in bringing pride to the Philippines.”