President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vetoed a bill seeking to amend the charter of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), noting concerns that may conflict with existing laws and possibly impact the government’s fiscal position.
While the President said Congress has expressed its noble intention in crafting the bill, he said he could not look past concerns raised by various national agencies.
In his veto message dated 24 April sent to both House and the Senate, Marcos noted several issues with the enrolled bill, including the proposed increase of P100 billion in authorized capital, as it may potentially affect the government’s fiscal integrity.
Inconsistent with one-fund policy
He also stated that the proposal to use the proceeds from the sale of the allocated lands from the ecozones to accrue mainly to the BCDA is inconsistent with the government’s one-fund policy, limiting its fiscal flexibility in deciding fund utilization for more pressing concerns.
“In addition, the bill antithetically grants to the BCDA the authority to determine alienable and disposable lands, which clearly falls under the mandate of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources,” Marcos said.
In addition, Marcos said the bill’s language granting land ownership and authority to the BCDA in disposing lands counters the Republic v. Heirs of Bernabe case which states that the beneficial owner of lands transferred to the BCDA is the state, according to Republic Act 7227, or the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992.
