Senate panel OKs proposed 2018 budgets of BCDA, SBMA | SubicNewsLink

21 September 2017

Senate panel OKs proposed 2018 budgets of BCDA, SBMA

The Senate finance subcommittee approved on Tuesday the proposed 2018 budgets of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

During the deliberations, BCDA president and chief executive officer Vivencio Dizon bared their priority projects which include the expansion of Clark International Airport, construction of the New Clark City, BGC-NAIA Bus Rapid Transit System, and the Subic-Clark Cargo Railway.



SBMA Administrator and CEO Atty. Wilma Eisma, for her part, said they are proposing for a P3.548 billion budget for 2018.

Eisma said that they are eyeing to build an SBMA Corporate Center with a total estimated cost of P3.2 billion.

Meanwhile, the following are the proposed projects of SBMA with its estimated cost:

• New Magsaysay bridge - P390,780,000

• Piers And wharves rehabilitation - P2,459,610,000

• Port dredging - P83,389,950

• Building of SBMA/Olongapo Museum - P80,000,000

• Continuous upgrading of the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) Facilities - P45,400,000

• Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) concreting And repair of roads - P489,300,000

The BCDA is seeking a P6.686 billion budget for 2018, of which P4.017 billion will be allotted for the construction of the New Clark city Access Road.

The New Clark City, according to Dizon, is a 120-hectare one-stop shop land which will be located at the Central Business District.

A 46-hectare Philippine Sports City includes facilities such as athletics and outdoor football stadium, aquatics center and athlete's village that will be built within the proposed New Clark City.

Dizon emphasized the need for the national government to provide funding for the construction of roads, as the Philippines will be hosting the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019.

He said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano has chosen New Clark City as one of the venues for the SEA Games.

Finance subcommittee F chaired by Senator JV Ejercito, who saw "very big potential" over the proposed projects of BCDA, suggested that the agency should also come up with a master plan that will last for at least 20 to 50 years.

"Instead of the 3-year and 6-year plan that based on the political term. Kasi ganon ang nangyari sa atin, wala tayong long term plans so I think this is very exciting and Clark will play a big role in decongesting Metro Manila and other cities," Ejercito said.

Dizon, for his part, assured that they have a masterplan that is up until 2065.

Ejercito has also suggested that SBMA should create a long-term master plan.

Ejercito has approved the proposed budget of BCDA and SBMA which will be moved to the Senate plenary for final approval. (RSJ, GMA News)

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/626412/senate-panel-oks-proposed-2018-budgets-of-bcda-sbma/story/

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