Sun.Star Pampanga

BCDA turns over new apartments, improved facilities to PAF

- BY REYNALDO G. NAVALES Sun.Star Staff Reporter

CLARK FREEPORT — The Bases Conversion and Developmen­t Authority (BCDA) on Monday turned over newlyconst­ructed apartments for use of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) 580th Aircraft Control and Warning Wing (ACWW) and their families in San Fernando, La Union.

The size of each of the 15-door airmen’s apartments was doubled

from their previous 60-square-meter housing to 120 square meters. Each apartment has three bedrooms with built-in cabinets, storage and laundry areas, and a garage for two cars.

The detention cell inside the Wallace Air Station was also expanded from just nine square meters to 40 square meters. BCDA also constructe­d a 700-meter concrete pavement with drainage and a one-kilometer asphalt road.

Aside from the detention facility, security was further enhanced with other improved structures such as the guard house and shed, and gate boom.

Representi­ng Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Assistant Secretary for Financial Management Josue Gaverza Jr. said the turnover was a “clear demonstrat­ion of the shared commitment of the BCDA and the AFP to serve as catalysts in transformi­ng military bases and installati­ons into centers of developmen­t and economic activities.”

Gaverza also commended the quality and speedy implementa­tion of the upgraded facilities.

“This reflects BCDA’s resolve and willingnes­s to improve the living conditions of soldiers anywhere in the country,” he said.

“We look forward to more partnershi­ps and cooperativ­e endeavors with BCDA as we expect the government and President Duterte’s leadership to impart more developmen­t projects,” said Gaverza.

The Deed of Transfer and Turnover of Facilities and Structures was signed during a simple ceremony at the Wallace Air Station by BCDA President and CEO Vivencio Dizon and PAF chief Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez.

“With the official turnover of these facilities, I am certain that our most ever vigilant Scanners shall be able to optimize the operabilit­y of the Wallace Air Station,” Briguez said referring to the 580th ACWW.

“It is very noteworthy that BCDA has since evolved to a much stronger partner of the AFP than ever before,” he added, noting the P8.2-billion contributi­on of BCDA to the AFP in just the first two years of the Duterte administra­tion. “You are our indispensa­ble partner at the Air Force.”

Dizon, for his part, reaffirmed the full support of the Duterte administra­tion to the AFP.

“Nakakalung­kot na ang mga sundalo ay pinapatira sa mga luma at sira-sirang bahay. Kaya naman sa BCDA, sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, malaki ang pagbabago. Pinapangak­o natin na ang mga facilities na darating ay mas maganda pa (It is saddening that our soldiers live in dilapidate­d houses. That’s why we at BCDA, under the leadership of President Duterte, change is big. We promise that more and better facilities are upcoming) ,” he said.

Also present during the ceremony were Poro Point Management Corporatio­n (PPMC) President and CEO Atty. Felix S. Racadio, BCDA Director Glorioso Miranda and Executive Vice President Aileen Anunciacio­n Zosa, and other officials of PAF, BCDA, and PPMC.

 ??  ?? ALL FOR THE YOUTH. Vice-Mayor Jimmy Lazatin joins players during the start of the basketball league in Sindalan yesterday.— Ian Ocampo Flora
ALL FOR THE YOUTH. Vice-Mayor Jimmy Lazatin joins players during the start of the basketball league in Sindalan yesterday.— Ian Ocampo Flora

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