Defense chief opposes military bases conversion

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. on Friday voiced strong opposition to the further conversion of military bases for civilian use, calling the existing model a “failure” and an “injustice to the Filipino people.”

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the AFP Joint Exercise (AJEX) Dagat Langit “DAGIT-PA” in Camp Aguinaldo, Teodoro firmly asserted his position.

“Upon reflection, this firms up my stand that the conversion of bases model is a failure. And I will oppose any further attempts to do so because it is not merely an injustice to the Armed Forces, but an injustice to the Filipino people,” Teodoro said.

The Defense chief argued that the military assets previously taken away were strategically planned for their original locations and cannot be easily replicated elsewhere.

“The assets that were taken from the Armed Forces were not chosen to be military assets by accident. These were strategic assets,” Teodoro said.

He also stressed that replicating the infrastructure and strategic locations of these bases would cost the government “trillions of pesos,” a staggering expense given the current need for military modernization funds.

He cited Fort Bonifacio as an example, noting that its value includes what was built decades ago “below the ground” on bedrock, assets that are no longer utilized.

“Taking them away does not only cost us in terms of the lack of funds for modernization but to replicate these bases is not merely a function of replicating structures that we vacate, but the location of these structures cannot be replicated without spending a whopping amount, trillions of pesos,” Teodoro said.

He argued that continuing the conversion process sacrifices the country’s “deterrent posture” in an attempt to earn cash that is not strategic or sustained.

To recall, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) was established under Republic Act 7227 to convert military reservations into productive civilian use, with the goal of generating funds for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization and promoting economic development.

However, Teodoro cited that only P45 billion has been earned from base conversions over 26 years.

In February, the Senate passed Senate Bill No. 2647, which seeks to extend the BCDA’s life for another 30 years. Teodoro indicated strong departmental opposition to the bill.

“They want it to be extended, we are opposing it. We do not want to extend its life,” Teodoro said. “Then, the Clark Development Corporation will be left. We can’t take it back but we will no longer give more.”