Marcos vetoes bill on BCDA charter amendment

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Malacañang says President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 'could not ignore the concerns raised by the national agencies' in relation to the proposed measure

MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vetoed the bill seeking to amend the charter of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Malacañang said on Saturday, April 26.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a press statement that the President transmitted his veto message dated April 24, to both houses of Congress.

“Although President Marcos recognized Congress’ noble intention in crafting the bill, he said he could not ignore the concerns raised by the national agencies,” the PCO said.

Among the concerns raised by Marcos is the proposed increase of P100 billion in authorized capital, “which he said could affect the government’s fiscal integrity,” PCO said.

Marcos also cited the proposed use of proceeds from the sale of the allocated lands from the economic zones to accrue mainly to the BCDA. PCO said that according to the President, this is not consistent with the government’s one-fund policy and would limit the government’s “fiscal flexibility.”

“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 his veto message. 

The PCO also cited the President’s concern over the “bill’s language granting land ownership and authority to the BCDA in disposing of lands contradicts Republic v. Heirs of Bernabe, which provides that the state is the beneficial owner of the lands transferred to the BCDA by virtue of Republic Act No. 7227” or the BCDA Act of 1992.

The Senate passed the bill on third and final reading in February.  – Rappler.com