Newsletter_Jan-Feb 2011 Save PDF - Philippines Bases ...

Cover Story
BCDA: Disposition proce
from Metro Manila
by Roy Victor R. Rosales, BCDA Public Affairs Department
The state-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has generated
Php50.822 billion for the period May 1993 to December 2010 from the disposition of former
Metro Manila camps, primarily Bonifacio Global City, Market! Market!, Serendra, McKinley Hill,
JUSMAG Property in Fort Bonifacio and the Villamor Air Base, among others. Of this amount, Php19.32
billion has been remitted to the National Treasury for the account of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP), broken down into Php9.823 billion for the AFP modernization program and Php9.496 billion for
the military replication expenses.
Similarly, remitted to the National Treasury were
Php462.2 million representing the shares of contiguous
municipalities of Taguig, Pateros and Makati as well as
Php7.092 billion in favor of 14 government beneficiary
agencies mandated under R.A. 7227 (the Bases
Conversion and Development Act), as amended by
R.A. 7917.
These government agencies include the National
Shelter Program that finances mass social housing
project for the underprivileged and homeless citizens
of the country. Other government programs are the
National Health Insurance Program; Higher Education
Development Fund, otherwise known as the Higher
Education Act of 1994 that finances students’
scholarship, faculty development and the improvement
of physical plants of colleges and universities under the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED); science and
technology scholarships for young Filipino scientists and
students in selected countries through the Department
of Science and Technology; the Study Now Pay Later
Program for poor but deserving youths who shall enroll
or are enrolled in science and technology (S&T);
the multi-year program of the prosecution service;
the modernization program of the National Bureau
of Investigation (NBI), the Philippine National Police
(PNP) and improvement of prison facilities; the judicial
reform program; the establishment of preschool and
day-care centers nationwide; the summer program
for the education of students (SPES) in accordance
with Republic Act No. 7323; the construction of Senior
Citizens Centers as provided under Republic Act No.
7876; the emergency and contingent needs of the
areas devastated by the Mount Pinatubo.
The other proceeds in the amount of Php10.675 billion
went to the following: taxes and fees paid to the Bureau
of Internal Revenue and local government units;
housing and relocation expenses of informal occupants
affected by the developments; survey, titling and
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masterplanning; construction of site development/
utilities projects; and replication expenses of nonmilitary
facilities formerly located in the military camps.
Only Php8.482 billion went to the conversion and
development of former U.S. military bases like Clark,
Poro Point in La Union and Camp John Hay in Baguio
as well as to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway which
enhances the complementary development of Subic
and Clark. It is worthy to note that the original intent
of the Bases Conversion Law was the conversion and
development of these properties and the AFP share in
the disposition proceeds is just one of the fund sources
for the AFP Modernization Program.
The BCDA said that the share of the AFP and other
government agencies are directly remitted to the
National Treasury and, in turn, the Department
of Finance (DOF) and the Department of Budget
and Management (DBM) are responsible for safekeeping,
programming and releasing the respective
appropriations of these government agencies to
finance their programs and projects. After BCDA’s
remittance of the funds to the Treasury, BCDA is no
longer involved in the use and disbursement of these
funds.
The BCDA said it is set to remit to the Treasury an
additional Php1.847 billion for the AFP share, coming
out of the Php4.791 billion additional disposition
revenues in 2010. Based on current projections, some
Php26 billion more are expected from joint venture
transactions already entered into for the development
of Bonifacio properties. This is over and above
the projected revenues from the 45 percent share
being held by BCDA in Fort Bonifacio Development
Corporation (FBDC), the private real estate firm
currently developing the fast-rising Bonifacio Global
City which is controlled by Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) and
the Campos Group.