Tall order: 20,000 housing units for the uniformed men and women
President Benigno S. Aquino III committed to build this year 20,000 housing units for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police(PNP) officers and men.
He made this promise during the silver anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution through the creation of the AFP-PNP Housing Program under Administrative Order No. 9, which aims at providing permanent and decent housing for the officers and men of the AFP and PNP.
And this promise was realized on 23 May 2011, when President Aquino, together with Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council HUDCC Chair Jejomar C. Binay, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo, top officials from the military, police, local government units and other housing multi-stakeholders launched and witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony in Bocaue Hills Housing Project in Bocaue, Bulacan where a total of 4,000 housing units for qualified AFP / PNP are now being completed.
As prioritized by NHA, these housing units will be provided with community facilities, livelihood opportunities, individual power and water connection by Meralco and Bocaue Water District respectively.
With our agency being on top of this gigantic task of providing decent, affordable and housing to our men and women in uniform, we strongly encourage the support and cooperation of our government partners, the developers, the community beneficiaries in rendering our unwavering commitment to serve them because they protect us and our government. They who are always in the frontlines – fighting and preserving peace and order in our country, need at the soonest possible time and to the best of our ability, the roofs over their heads where they can be assured security of tenure and dignity of human living.
Noteworthy to mention is the fact that other AFP/PNP housing sites are at various stages of construction in Southern, Eastern and Northern Luzon. We have housing sites located in the following towns: to the north – Bocaue, San Jose del Monte and Norzagaray, all in Bulacan; to the east, Baras and Rodriguez in Rizal and to the south, Calamba, Laguna, Trece Martires and Gen. Trias in Cavite.
To add, the Department of Budget and Management will prioritize the funding requirement of the AFP/PNP housing program, while the Pag-Ibig Fund will establish a "special homebuyer's loan window" to fast track loan application processing.
As the President put it in his speech: "It is the policy of this administration to improve the welfare of government employees, including military and police personnel, by providing them and their families with decent and affordable shelter."
This is a tall order. This is our commitment. And this is our priority: Housing the women and men in uniform.