Navy keen on moving headquarters

By Fernando M Cariaso

Peoples' Journal,Saturday, July 31, 2010

The Philippine Navy will transfer its headquarters to
Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City once plans to lease its
headquarters in Roxas Boulevard in order to raise
revenues for the Navy's modernization push through,
Navy spokesperson Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo yesterday said.

In his first State of the Nation, President Benigno
Aquino mentioned the transfer of the Navy Headquarters
to Camp Aguinaldo from its current office, the Naval
Station or Fort Jose Andrada, along Roxas Blvd.

The 1.3 hectare Navy owned land on Roxas Boulevard is
sought to be leased under a public-private partnership
that is expected to provide much-needed revenues for
the modernization of the Navy's equipment. Aquino also
noted that there is already an offer to lease the Roxas
Boulevard property for $100 million.

Arevalo, however, said some civilians and enlisted
members of the Navy are apprehensive about the proposal.

"Some members of the Navy were surprised because this is
a top-to-bottom decision. This recommendation from the
Navy leadership is the new scheme to acquire additional
funds for modernization,"Arevalo said.

He explained the planned transfer will not affect its
ships since most berth at the Naval Base Sangley Point
and in the Naval Station Pascual Ledesma, both in Cavite.

"Walang epekto na mararamdaman for strategic values,
except maybe for sentimental reasons," Arevalo explained,
nothing that the Navy has been based at its Roxas Boulevard
property since 1937.

He made it clear that the properties will not be sold but
will only be leased for a certain period. Once the
partnership ends, the property will be returned to the
military, including the developments on it made by interested
private parties.

Aside from its Roxas Boulevard property, the Navy is also
planning to lease the 30-hectare Bonifacio Naval Station
in Fort Bonifacio, an area near the commercial district
in Makati.