Historic agreement between the Government and the Army: military land allocated to the construction of social housing in Lonquimay
National Assets Minister Javiera Toro and Defence Minister Maya Fernández played a key role in negotiating the unlocking of this process. The housing project will benefit 296 families.
The Government and the Army have signed an agreement in Lonquimay following years of blocked negotiations to use land managed by this branch of the Armed Forces for the construction of social housing, which will directly benefit 296 families from the municipality. This solution is part of a more efficient management of state territory and comes under the Housing Emergency Plan mandated by President Gabriel Boric to respond to the housing crisis that Chile is facing.
Since National Assets Minister Javiera Toro and Defence Minister Maya Fernández took office, they have worked alongside the Army – led by Commander-in-Chief Javier Iturriaga – to come up with a solution that would harmonize both the demand for social housing in the area and the institutional needs of this branch of the military.
Their efforts were concluded this Thursday, November 24, with the official signing of the agreement with which part of the “El Naranjo” property will be used to build social housing. The land was part of the Lonquimay barracks and is in an excellent location, with high connectivity and access to basic services. In turn, the Army will move its training and instruction programs to the Fundo Ranquil sector, where they can be more adequately carried out.
Minister Toro emphasized that this agreement “represents the mandate that President Boric has given us to have greater coordination between institutions, to have a more efficient State that finally behaves like a State, because we are responsible for the land that we have to administer serving all social purposes.” She also explained that “this is the first of a series of agreements that we hope to reach with other institutions, as well as the Army with whom we are already working, so that the various institutions are really at the service and up to the needs of the country.”
Defence Minister Maya Fernández followed by highlighting that this is “lovely news for the 296 families who are going to have a home. This has been a highly coordinated effort from the Defence Ministry, the Army, the National Assets Ministry and the Municipality of Lonquimay, which today allows us to take this important step to benefit more than a thousand people from the municipality.”
The signing of the agreement took place at the Lonquimay Municipal Gymnasium, attended by four housing committees. The Army was represented by Brigadier General and Commander of the Engineer Division, Jean Pierre Irribarra. “This is a significant day that reflects the Army’s permanent collaborative work with the general public. We analyzed together with the mayor’s office the recommendations of the Defence Ministry and the good will of the National Assets Ministry, and we have evaluated that the training and accommodation capacities of the barracks can be maintained while leaving a proportion for the construction of social housing,” he stated after signing the agreement.
Regional Presidential Delegate José Montalva praised “the commitment that the defence minister, the national assets minister and the Army have shown in joining forces to act in directly benefiting the people who live in our region (…) It is precisely what President Boric has asked us. In this very place, he talked to us about how important and necessary it was to provide a solution and respond to urgent demands.”
In his capacity as host, the mayor of Lonquimay stressed that this is “without doubt a historic day for our municipality and our people. We appreciate the inclination and will of all the organizations involved.” He added, “it was not an easy path; but today we make a fundamental right like having a decent home a reality. Today we can say with certainty that another world is possible.”
The four housing committees that will benefit from this land are Valle de Araucarias, Villa Cordillera, Pirren Mahuida and La Llave Soñada.
After the signing ceremony, the authorities and committees visited the land and took an official photo of the landmark moment.