BCDA to bid out P75-B property contracts this year

MANILA, Philippines - The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) intends to bid   out contracts for properties amounting to a total of P75 billion this year.     

“The contracts are either for land sale or lease, which for the latter   means cash flow will come in a staggered manner,” BCDA president and chief executive officer Arnel Paciano Casanova said in a press   briefing yesterday.     

He said among the contracts the BCDA wants to bid out this year is the   33.1-hectare Bonifacio South Pointe in Taguig City, valued at P36.3 billion.     

The bidding for Bonifacio South Pointe has been halted after the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order in   January last year following a petition filed by SM Land Inc.     

Apart from Bonifacio South Pointe, Casanova said the BCDA also plans   to bid out the contract for the development of 1,300 hectares of Clark   Green City amounting to P26.3 billion, as well as the development of   the 16-hectare Poro Point worth P2 billion.     

“We are just waiting for the approval of President (Aquino) for the Clark Green City, then we can bid it out,” he said.     

The Clark Green City project would involve the development of the Clark   Freeport and Special Economic Zone to become a more attractive   location for investments.     

As for the 16-hectare Poro Point, the BCDA wants it to be developed   into a mixed use area.     

The BCDA, likewise, wants to conduct the bidding for other Metro Manila   camps covering 7.2 hectares valued at P3.5 billion, and lots in other special economic zones covering 12 hectares worth P6.87 billion.     

Casanova said the BCDA is also helping the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Department of National Defense in the privatization or development of parts of Camp Aguinaldo and other military camps.     

“We intend to engage a master planner for that within the first half   of the year,” he said.     

As for the earlier announced plan to improve and upgrade the San   Fernando Airport in La Union, Casanova said Netherlands-based Rebel Group   International has been engaged as master planner for the project.     

The development of the airport would be offered for bidding under the   government’s Public-Private Partnership program.     

“By middle of 2015, we will have financial closing of the project,” he said.     

As for the monorail project that would connect the Guadalupe station of   the Metro Rail Transit to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City and   Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and other   business districts in Metro Manila, he said the Japan International   Cooperation Agency has started to conduct the feasibility study.     

The BCDA is mandated to transform former military bases into   alternative civilian use.     

Last year, the BCDA recorded cash inflows of P6.022 billion, up from   the P5.172 billion in 2012.     

The collections came from resolution of problematic accounts,   successful negotiations of lease payments, disposition of properties   and payments of dividends from subsidiaries.     

BCDA Asset Disposition Program Committee chair Nena Radoc said in the   same event the BCDA expects to have cash inflows amounting to P6.5   billion this year.