BCDA committed to earning revenues for AFP modernization

From the Philippine News Agency (May 15, 2023): BCDA committed to earning revenues for AFP modernization (By Priam Nepomuceno)

MANILA – The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is committed to strengthening the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) by creating communities that can generate revenues that could help the military in its ongoing modernization program.

“The BCDA is all about helping strengthen the Armed Forces while building great communities like Bonifacio Global City,” BCDA president and chief executive officer Aileen Zosa said in a statement forwarded to reporters Monday.

She added that by building recurring revenues through these developments, BCDA will be more conscious of generating revenues for the modernization of the AFP and expediting the completion of much-needed military facilities.

Zosa made this commitment during the 26th AFP Forum held on May 13, hosted by the agency and attended by over 90 public affairs and information officers from the DND and AFP headed by Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong.

The forum tackled updates on BCDA’s current efforts to contribute to the AFP modernization and its replication projects for the military.

In his message, BCDA chair Delfin Lorenzana stressed the significance of government communicators, especially in the defense and security sectors, as “bearers of truthful and accurate information”.

“We highlight the crucial role of public information officers in communicating to our stakeholders our commitment to helping build a community that is peaceful, secure and livable through the support of strong and reliable armed forces,” Lorenzana said.

As a testament to its mandate, BCDA in 2022 contributed a total of PHP7.206 billion to the AFP or PH4.562 billion higher compared to the 2021 remittance of PHP2.644 billion.

Of BCDA’s gross disposition proceeds from 1993 to 2022, 42 percent or PHP56.40 billion is allocated to the AFP for its modernization program, giving a boost to military forces who respond to crises and defend the country against all threats.

Other than contributions to the AFP Modernization Program, the BCDA also provides support by modernizing military facilities as part of its replication program.

In 2022, the BCDA turned over modern facilities to the Army Support Command of the Philippine Army, to help relocate the unit’s headquarters in Camp Servillano Aquino in Tarlac.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201492