By Mario J. Mallari
Tribune, Friday, August 13, 2010
At least three private firms have expressed interest in leasing
the Navy real estates, Navy chief Rear Admiral Danilo Cortez
disclosed yesterday.
“There are a lot that are presenting intention to participate to
the proposal (to lease the Navy headquarters. We have received
(such interest from) three private firms,” Cortez told Camp
Aguinaldo reporters.
In his first State of the Nation Address last month, President
Aquino mentioned that a private consortium is willing to shell
out $100 million for the relocation of the Navy headquarters plus
monthly increments.
“We have to get the most of it from our real estate,” Cortez said.
The Jose Andrada Naval Station, which serves as the headquarters
of the Philippine Navy, is occupying 1.13 hectares of prime land
along Roxas Boulevard in Manila, adjacent to the Cultural Center
of the Philippines Complex in Pasay City.
Aside from the Navy headquarters, also being considered for lease
are Navy prime lots in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City and other
camps in Cebu and Palawan provinces.
The Navy leadership came up with the idea to lease its properties
to help generate funds to finance its eyed modernization.
“For the improvement of the Navy and modernization, they (proposals)
are okay to us,” Cortez said.
He said during talks with Navy personnel, the idea was welcomed as
“we will be transferring to a better building (that is) more
comfortable and modernize our equipment.”
Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said one of the options that
were broached in the proposal to lease the Navy properties is the
direct acquisition of items from the private consortiums instead of
paying rentals.
“One option is for them to pay rentals…another option is they will
give us just in kind…so they will not be giving us money,” he
explained.
Arevalo, though, admitted that the Navy leadership is more keen on
receiving items instead of cash.
“The better option now being studied is in kind because that is faster
and it might lessen the thoughts of other people, their apprehensions
about how the amount will be received,” he said.
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