MANILA, Philippines — Contributions of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) hit a record-high under the Duterte administration, breaching the P25 billion mark.
In a statement issued over the weekend, the BCDA said its total contribution to the AFP from 2017 to 2021 reached P25.01 billion, higher than the P13.01 billion during the Aquino administration.
BCDA’s contribution under the current administration is also well above the cumulative contribution amounting to P18.38 billion made during the previous administrations from 1993 to 2010.
For last year alone, the BCDA’s contribution to the AFP amounted to P7.2 billion, which is set to be remitted to the National Treasury next month.
Since its creation in 1992, BCDA’s contributions to the AFP have reached P56.4 billion, representing 44.21 percent of the total asset disposition proceeds from 1993 to 2021 amounting to P127.55 billion.
“Despite challenges brought about by the pandemic, the BCDA continued to perform well and generate much-needed income from its asset disposition efforts. Aggressive policies taken to resolve long-standing disputes over properties or with business partners also played part in the BCDA’s excellent collection efforts during the Duterte administration. This, in turn, translated to higher contributions to our beneficiary agencies and stakeholders, especially our military forces,” BCDA officer-in-charge president and chief executive officer Aristotle Batuhan said.
As the BCDA celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, he said the aim is to generate more funds to support the AFP in achieving the goal to become world class.
Created under Republic Act 7227 or the Bases Conversion and Development Act signed by former president Corazon Aquino in March 1992, the BCDA is mandated to help strengthen the AFP by transforming former military bases and properties into premier centers of economic growth.
BCDA’s income is generated from the sale, lease or joint venture arrangements with private sector partners.
Every year, part of the proceeds are remitted to the Bureau of the Treasury, which are then allocated and distributed by the Department of Budget and Management to the AFP and other beneficiary agencies.
“We assure our stakeholders, including the AFP, that their share from our asset disposition proceeds are remitted to the national government every year, without fail, in compliance with laws and regulations,” Batuhan said.
BCDA’s contributions to the AFP have two components: the modernization program and the replication of military facilities.
Earlier this month, the BCDA turned over facilities to the Army Support Command of the Philippine Army, as part of the relocation of the unit’s headquarters in Camp Servillano Aquino in Tarlac.