Aquino to launch low-cost mass housing project for cops, soldiers

MANILA, Philippines — The low-cost mass housing project for soldiers and policemen promised by President Aquino in February will be formally launched on Monday, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The President will lead the project’s formal launch at the NELL-K Home in Barangay (village) Batia in Bocaue, Bulacan at 9 a.m.

The project aims to provide at least 20,000 house-and-lot units situated in provinces around Metro Manila for qualified Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police personnel.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. and PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo will formally accept the mass housing units on behalf of military and police personnel.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, who heads the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), and National Housing Authority general manager Chito Cruz will also be on hand for the launch.

Brig. Gen. Honorato Delos Reyes, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for personnel (J1) of the AFP, said they have so far received more than 1,000 applications.

Delos Reyes’ office started distributing application forms from the National Housing Authority two weeks ago.

He said enlisted personnel “particularly those assigned in the field have been eager in complying with the requirements to become beneficiaries of the housing project.”

The housing project offers soldiers at least two options to own a row house through monthly amortization terms for a maximum payment period of 30 years at a six per cent per annum interest rate.

The AFP said one option offered a row house with a 22-square meter floor area, which sat on a 36-square meter lot. Its net cost is P140,000 (or P175,000 less subsidy of P35,000).

The monthly amortization costs P200 for the first five years. The monthly amortization gradually increases to P1,307 for the last five years of payment.

The other option offers an expandable row house with an 18-square meter floor area but with a loft, which sits on a slightly bigger 40-square meter lot.

This costs P173,000 net (or P208,000 less subsidy of P35,000). It requires a cash equity of P33,000. The monthly amortization costs P400 for the first five years, gradually increasing to P1,419 on the 26th and 30th year.

A soldier with the rank of private receives P400 in monthly quarters or housing allowance.

The AFP and the Philippine National Police will formulate the selection criteria for applicants. But the pre-qualified applicants who pass the AFP and PNP criteria still have to be approved by the NHA.

Soldiers can choose from nine proposed housing sites in four provinces around Metro Manila.

These are Trece Martirez (2,000 units) in Cavite; Biñan (2,000 units), Calamba (1,000 units) and Calauan (1,000 units) in Laguna; Bocaue (4,000 units), San Jose Del Monte (4,000 units) and San Miguel (1,000 units) in Bulacan; and Baras (2,000 units) and Montalban (3,000 units) in Rizal.

A tenth proposed site in General Trias, Cavite was mentioned.

The AFP said salary deductions for the monthly amortization payment can be arranged between NHA, AFP, PNP and the PAG-IBIG and a collection agency may be commissioned by the NHA.

The President unrolled the mass housing program for soldiers and policemen during the 25th anniversary of the Edsa People Power revolution last February.

He said at least 20,000 housing units would be ready for occupancy in the next six to eight months.

He said his administration’s target is to grant a total of 140,000 housing units before the end of his term in 2016.