The Armed Forces of the Philippines should start leasing Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City and other military camps this year for the next 99 years, President Duterte said recently.
The President said he wanted to hasten the lease of military camps so proceeds could augment funds needed to improve the social benefits of the soldiers.
“Do not sell it. I will only allow you to lease it for 99 years then renewable for another 99 years. That’s a lifetime. That’s billion. If you count it by years, trillion ‘yan,” Duterte said during a police shootfest in Davao City.
“I want it implemented this year kaya pag-usapan na ninyo ‘yan. I’ve been hurrying up Aguinaldo. ‘Pag na-lease ‘yan, biro mo – kita mo ang Taguig. Tingnan mo ang putok ng Taguig,” he added.
Duterte admitted that government funds are not sufficient to meet the social needs of uniformed personnel so he proposed the lease of some idle military camps.
He said Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has suggested the creation of a state firm similar to the Government Service Insurance System that would manage the funds from the camp leases and ensure these resources would benefit the soldiers. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)
