200 soldiers to move into new homes soon

MANILA, Philippines — Almost 200 personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and their families will soon be moving into their new homes with the coming completion of 12 condominium buildings at Fort Bonifacio and Villamor Air base, according to military officials.

They said 192 units will be made available to qualified AFP personnel upon completion of the P700-million housing project under the behest of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

Two buildings, each housing 32 units, are located within the retention area of the Philippine Air Force at Villamor Air Base while 10 buildings, composed of 160 units, are located in Fort Bonifacio.

The BCDA announced the imminent completion of the residential units last week at the turnover ceremony for 32 condominium-type units to Army soldiers and their families who were former residents of the Jusmag (Joint US Military Assistance Group) area.

At the event, BCDA president and chief executive officer Arnel Casanova said the provision of decent shelter to the AFP troops “motivate them … in pursuit of giving service to the nation and to fellow Filipinos.”

In a statement, Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., AFP public affairs chief, said the positive development has made the military optimistic “that there are goal-oriented means in correcting old, distorted ways.”

“These are evidenced by the recovery of the Jusmag property and the use of the AFP’s shares and proceeds from the disposition of former military bases to augment the military’s modernization program,” he said.

“I’m quite convinced that there is still honor among uniformed men and the way we’re going to accomplish these projects is by bearing in mind the honor and dignity of our soldiers,” Casanova said.

Apart from upgrading the military’s capability, shares and proceeds received by the AFP from the disposition shall translate into the construction of more housing units for qualified members of the military, Burgos said.

Once the second batch of 32 housing units is finished, they will be turned over to qualified soldiers. The 32 units are among the 160 condominium units to be built near McKinley Hill in Taguig City, according to Casanova.

Two of the 10 buildings at Fort Bonifacio that will provide 160 units have already been constructed. The other eight buildings are expected to be built and turned over before the end of the year.

Each unit is equipped with three bedrooms and a maid’s quarters.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines is grateful for the continuous assistance and contribution of the BCDA to uplift the morale and welfare of the soldiers,” said AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Jessie Dellosa.

With the benefits they have been receiving from the BCDA, Dellosa said they would be “more able and efficient in performing our mandate to protect the people and the state.”