Quality housing for AFP servicemen unveiled

Now, soldiers can look forward to living well in a superior-quality home at approximately half the cost.

A pact inked by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and noted real estate company Laguna Properties Holdings Inc. (LPHI) will provide for the development of very affordable house-and-lot packages at Camp Riego de Dios in Tanza, Cavite for the country’s brave men and women in uniform. The Cavite project is the first of 14 off-base communities that will eventually earmark a total of 592 hectares for the AFP housing program.

This undertaking is in line with President Arroyo’s vision of homes for more Filipinos. Shortly after assuming office, she identified housing as one of her administration’s priorities. She then asked the members of housing industry community to explore and identify ways to reinvigorate the sector.

Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes was instrumental in the creation of the AFP’s off-base housing program. He envisioned the project while he was Chief of Staff two years ago to "provide decent and affordable housing to homeless military personnel." Under the scheme, the government will provide the land to be worked on by a private developer.

This means that soldiers will only pay for the construction of the houses and the community’s roads, drainage, and waterworks. Making LPHI’s affordable packages even more easy are financing schemes offered by Pag-IBIG.

"This is a great example of how cooperation between the government, Pag-IBIG, and a responsible developer can make the good life attainable to more people," said LPHI president Manuel Colayco Jr. LPHI also donated four model units of the products to be offered to AFP personnel. The model houses available for viewing are at Camp Aguinaldo.

The selection of LPHI to build the pioneering community underscored the excellent reputation of the real estate company, which has already sold more than 6,000 homes. "We were chosen not just for cost efficiency but the quality of our work. And we guarantee that the Camp Riego de Dios development will be comparable to LPHI’s other projects in the commercial market," Colayco continued.