Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the planned sale of military camps, particularly Camps Aguinaldo and Crame, is still in the preliminary stages.

Lacierda said the plan will undergo thorough study to ensure that all economic and legal aspects are taken into consideration before a final decision on the fate of the camps is made.

In filing House Bill No. 3938, Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas said that the police main headquarters in Camp Crame and the military main camp in Camp Aguinaldo should be considered as the country’s national treasures.

Mandanas, the chairman the House Committee on Ways and Means, filed the measure that seeks to declare both camps in Santolan, Quezon City as historical, patriotic, and cultural symbols of national dignity, which should be erased from the government’s list of properties to be privatized.

“While raising funds from the sale of some Metro Manila military camps to make productive the use of military camps and base lands are undertaken by the government to generate resources to pump prime the economy, certain camps endowed with enormous historical value,” Mandanas said.

“Camps Crame and Aguinaldo have to be excluded to preserve the country’s national heritage. (They are) necessary to instill patriotism in the heart and mind of every Filipino through the preservation of these historical places,” he added.

Mandanas explained that his measure, when enacted into law, shall bar the government from putting the historical camps under the subject to “any form of disposition like sale, lease, exchange or joint venture.”

Citing Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution, Mandanas said historic preservation is an important endeavor that will keep historically relevant locations maintained and available for the benefit of future generations.

Lacierda reiterated that nothing is final and that the legal aspects are being studied. “So there is still no final decision on the matter. It is still preliminary, very preliminary. There’s still a long off before we can see the light on this particular project,” Lacierda said.

Under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) Law, for instance, the proceeds from the sale of military camps should be used for the implementation of the CARP Law.

Thus, the proceeds of the sale of military camps may not be used to fund the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“Again, we have to consider all aspects and that’s one of them – the legal aspects of this, the review of all existing laws in relation to this. Would a sale be legal in the first place? These things would have to be studied - the economic impact and all these matters would be taken to consideration before a decision is reached,” Lacierda said.

He said Camp Aguinaldo, for instance, has already been bought by the AFP, at least certain portions of it. However, there are still some portions that are still owned by the Ortigas family, adding that everything is still being discussed.

“All angles would be studied and thoroughly discussed. This is a major project by this government and we want to make sure that whatever outcome that they will come out with should comply,” he added.

It will be recalled that Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima had disclosed last week that there are already discussions to sell government assets, including Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame, saying that military camps should probably not be in the middle of the city.

Malacañang however said only certain portions of the said military camps would be considered.

Purisima had also said the government is making an inventory of its idle and underutilized assets so that government properties “are put to their best use.”

He cited the 40-hectare land of the Department of Health (DoH) in Cebu as well as penal facilities in some parts of the country.

“The best use may not be having a government site there in which case, we will partner with the private sector, privatize it, use the proceeds to relocate... so that we have a win-win scenario,” Purisima said.

“Whatever we do, whether its privatization or PPP, we will focus on a process that is transparent, is at level playing field, where bidding is done, where there are no sweetheart deals... so we avoid problems of the past,” he added.

Madel Sabater & Ria Rose Ribaya, Manila Bulletin