For P700, officers get ‘posh’ homes

For P700 a month, 50 Army officers and their families will get to occupy newly constructed quarters at Fort Bonifacio that could be likened to pricey townhouses on the outside that fetch at least P15,000 a month in rent.

Outgoing Army chief Lieutenant General Arturo Ortiz led the blessing ceremony on Friday for the five 10-door apartment buildings he had ordered constructed in the Philippine Army headquarters compound.

The officers and their dependents will move into 150-square-meter three-story units that will cost them P700 a month representing their housing allowance while they occupy the homes.

“In his effort to further boost the morale of our soldiers, Lieutenant General Ortiz initiated the construction of housing units for our personnel. The Army chief believes that through this, the soldiers will become more dedicated, effective and focused in doing their mandated mission,” said Army spokesperson Major Harold Cabunoc.

“General Ortiz won’t be forgotten for this project,” added Cabunoc, one of the beneficiaries. Ortiz is retiring on November 13 when he turns 56, the mandatory military retirement age.

Cabunoc said the construction of the newest units was funded with the P364 million allocated to the Philippine Army from the P1-billion Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Trust Fund.

Cabunoc said another 150 housing units will be awarded in the first quarter of next year.