Senator Alan Peter Cayetano expressed strong support for proposed amendments to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) charter, emphasizing that strategic land sales could stimulate development in key economic zones.
Cayetano filed Senate Bill No. 2647 earlier this year during his chairmanship of the Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises, with the goal of amending the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992 to further empower the government-owned and controlled corporation.
“The heart of this bill is allowing the sale of five-plus-five percent of our former military bases, especially the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone, Camp John Hay, Bataan Export Processing Zone, and Poro Point Freeport Zone,” the veteran legislator said during his interpellation with Senator Koko Pimentel III about the bill recently.
Apart from the legal safeguards, the disposition of lands will be strictly limited to the master plan and strategic disposition guidelines to be issued by the BCDA.
The proposed amendments also include extending the BCDA’s corporate term by another 50 years and remitting a portion of net proceeds from land sales to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Pension Fund, among other reforms.
“Restrictive land ownership policies in the BCDA areas have stalled development in the economic zones, forcing investors to establish operations outside its borders.”
The seasoned lawmaker stressed that restrictive land ownership policies in the BCDA areas have stalled development in the economic zones, forcing investors to establish operations outside its borders, which could also affect local workers.
“There are different degrees of success. Ang success ng BGC (Bonifacio Global City) ay may mga elements siya na wala sa Clark (Freeport and Special Economic Zone), and one of those elements is land ownership,” the senator noted.
“Ang nangyari po kasi ay namili ang mga developers sa labas ng Clark. Kung masyadong controlled ang market sa labas, mahihirapan ang mga workers,” he added.
Expressing confidence in the proposed strategic land sales, Cayetano said it would benefit all stakeholders involved.
“As long as it is limited to this five-plus-five percent, it will be a win-win-win — win for the workers, win for the developers, and win for the BCDA,” he said.
Cayetano emphasized how selling portions of military base lands, as had been done in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, helped drive the area’s economic progress.
He also expressed pride in advancing the bill to promote national development.
“Kung ipinagbawal ang pagbenta ng lupa noon sa Fort Bonifacio, BGC will not be BGC as it is now.”
“Kung ipinagbawal ang pagbenta ng lupa noon sa Fort Bonifacio, BGC will not be BGC as it is now,” Cayetano said.
“With all my heart, it is a privilege to be the sponsor of this bill. I thank the BCDA and the former presidents for the opportunity to push for this,” he concluded.
