DEFENSE SECRETARY Voltaire Gazmin salutes the colors together with Army Chief Lt Gen. Emmanuel Bautista upon his arrival at the Army headquarters at 1:30pm today, May 14, 2012. Gazmin was the Guest of Honor and Speaker during the turn over of housing units to military personnel who once occupied the JUSMAG area. (Photo by Pfc Cesar Lopez)
FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig
City-
The Philippine Army has formally turned over 32 newly-constructed housing units
to deserving military personnel inside the Army headquarters here, at 1:30 pm
today (Monday), a military official said.
Defense Secretary
Voltaire T Gazmin attended the ceremony as the guest of honor and speaker,
signifying his strong support to the Army’s projects which are focused on the
morale and welfare program for its personnel. Senior military officials led by
Army Chief Lt Gen Emmanuel Bautista also graced the occasion that was attended
by other military personnel, beneficiaries and their family members.
Major Harold M Cabunoc, the Army
Spokesperson, said that the construction of the housing units is under the
JUSMAG Replication project of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority .
It is the BCDA's initiative to secure the relocation of
JUSMAG housing area occupants whose residential area is taken over by BCDA for possible lease or development.
“The former JUSMAG occupants are
prioritized in this replication project, and there are also new applicants who
were granted the privilege to avail of these housing facilities inside the
camp,” said Cabunoc.
In his short message, BCDA President and CEO Arnel Paciano Cassanova said that the completion of the replication project was his own personal commitment.
"This is our way to recognize the invaluable services rendered by our soldiers for the country. We would like to honor them with a decent housing facility that they can call home," he said.
"This is our way to recognize the invaluable services rendered by our soldiers for the country. We would like to honor them with a decent housing facility that they can call home," he said.
The 32 completed units are part of the 160
condo-type units of the 10-unit buildings which are constructed a few hundred
meters away from the posh residences of Mc Kinley Hill.
Cabunoc said that the remainining 128
units are still undergoing final touches and will be completed by November
2012.
Each housing unit has 3 main bedrooms and
a maid's quarters which is comparable to the condo units in nearby areas that
can be rented at around P15,000.00-P18,000.00/month.
Army personnel occupying
on-base units pay a maintenance fee amounting to Php 400.00 for enlisted
personnel and P500.00 for officers. This 'rental fee' could vary depending on
the quarter allowances per computed based on the soldier's rank.
Aside from the condo-type housing units,
the Army will also turn-over 50 apartment type housing units later this year.
With a floor area measuring around 180 sqm., each unit has 4 bedrooms and an
attic.
These units are projected as transferring
area for the occupants of the Junior Officers Quarters (JOQ) along Arellano
Road. Vacated units will be awarded to 50 deserving enlisted personnel of the
command.
Since the inception of the Army Housing
Program, a total of 2,144 Army-wide on-base housing units were already
granted to personnel, 879 of which are inside Fort Bonifacio in Metro Manila.
On-base housing facilities are constructed
right inside the Army bases across the country, but these could not be owned by
the soldiers. Those who opt to avail of off-base housing can own the property
by availing of housing loans from reputable lending institutions partnered by
the Army like the PAG-IBIG fund.
Meanwhile, donors of the off-base units
normally shoulder half of the amount due, with the remaining half of the total
amount paid by the beneficiaries on a monthly basis.
A partnership with the Gawad-Kalinga
Community Development Foundation, Inc. gave birth to the Kalinga sa Kawal
Housing Project.
Under this project, lots were initially
given to Army personnel. Following the signature mode of Gawad-Kalinga, the
soldiers in the spirit of ‘Bayanihan’ will work together in building their
houses.
Out of 872 completed housing units, 687
are already turned-over while the remaining 185 are yet to be awarded.
P-Noy housing project
Augmenting the Army housing program is the P-Noy housing project which started in 2011.
A total of 10, 699 housing units were allocated for the personnel
of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, out of which 3, 783 are dedicated for
the Army wherein 3, 319 were already entitled for officers and enlisted
personnel waiting for formal turn-over.
The remaining units are still open for application. These
housing units are located outside military bases such as General Trias in
Cavite, Calamba in Laguna, Bulacan, and Rizal.
Meanwhile, Cabunoc said that through the
continuous support from the government and external donors, the Army will
continue to provide shelter to its personnel, enhancing the security and
protection of the soldiers' family members.
“Owning houses does not only provide
physical security but more importantly an inspiration for the beneficiaries to
continue living their dream of giving a good future to their families while
serving the country,” said Cabunoc.
Army chief Lt General Emmanuel Bautista
said that he will always support the implementation of projects that will
benefit the soldiers.
“Granting modest and comfortable housing
facilities for our soldiers is our humble way to uplift the living conditions
of our soldiers who have faithfully performed their duties, especially those
who are helping the people in far-flung communities. It is also part of our
attaining our vision of becoming a world-class Army by 2028,” said Bautista.
Army Chief Lt Gen Emmanuel Batutista receives the symbolic key of the JUSMAG Replication project from Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, as BCDA President Arnel Paciano Cassanova looks on. (Photo by Pfc Cesar Lopez)
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