BCDA made highest contribution to AFP during Duterte admin

MANILA, Philippines — State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) claimed that the agency made its highest contribution to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the first three years of the Duterte administration amid concerns raised by some senators over the low remittances for the military’s modernization program.

In a statement yesterday, the BCDA said it sent a letter to the Senate and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay to provide information on its remittances and contributions.

BCDA said it remitted P15.16 billion from 2016 to 2019 to the AFP, higher than the P13 billion turned over during the entire Aquino administration the previous six years.

“BCDA’s contributions to the AFP under the present administration already constitute 33 percent of the total contributions made since 1993,” BCDA said.

During the first three years of the current administration, the BCDA also had a record-high remittance to the national government amounting to P16.37 billion.

The statement was issued by BCDA as Sen. Risa Hontiveros last week expressed alarm over the inadequate remittances to fund the AFP modernization program.

Hontiveros’ statement was made after Gapay confirmed to lawmakers that BCDA has unremitted earnings during the Commission on Appointments (CA) hearing.

“In the CA hearing, it became clear that the BCDA has so far only submitted around P32 billion in remittances. That is only 10 percent of the estimated P300 billion needed to implement pending AFP modernization projects,” she said.

She also said the BCDA must immediately increase its remittance to the AFP, starting with the P13.2 billion unremitted by the agency earlier identified by Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

In response, the BCDA said there are no unremitted earnings amounting to P13.2 billion.

“BCDA has diligently remitted the share of all government agencies, especially the AFP, as mandated by law every year. The amount described is the unutilized amount of the BCDA remittances that are still in the Bureau of Treasury and have yet to be appropriated,” it said.

To help strengthen the Armed Forces and promote national development, BCDA transforms former military bases and properties into premier centers of economic growth in partnership with the private sector.