What happened to the P427 M fund?

Gordon asks BCDA:

By SAMMY MARTIN


SENATOR Richard Gordon on Thursday questioned the P427 million budject for the improvement of former United States military bases which were granted allocations since 1997.At the Senate hearing, Gordon asked representatives of the Bases Conversion Development. Authority (BCDA) to explain where the money ent since there were no sufficient improvements compared to the huge budgets allocated to them.

Gordon, chairman of the Senate committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises, said based on the revelation of BCDA President Narcisco Abaya, his agency allotted P427 million for the development of Poro Point Special Economic Zone in La Union.

“Runway of the Poro Point should have been developed and it will only cost P90 million to modernize it. Where did the money go? Poro Point is reportedly earning P50 million annually from its port operations,” Gordon told senate reporters during the press briefing.

It has been reported that gross revenue of the Poro Point Management Corporation is a whopping P547 million since 1997 with operating expenses of only P232 million.

“Poro Point could have been converted into a manufacturing and tourism enterprises zone like subic. Its facilities should be improved to meet international standards,” he said. The Poro Point presently has 1,300 meters long runaway and its need an additional 600 to 700 meters to be able to accommodate larger aircrafts.

“The infrastructure will bring in investors and tourists and BCDA should prioritize the development of Poro Point airport,” the former chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority said. He called on the BCDA officials to speed up its actions especially now that foreign and local tourists going to La Union and its nearby provinces including Pngasinan, Baguio and Ilocos will not have a difficult time in traveling.

For his part, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile also asked BCDA to resolve the issues on land and on tax privileges that has reported been causing delays in the implementation of infrastructure programs for Poro Point.

“ More jobs, more taxes and additional tourist attraction for foreign and local tourist could have been taken place if you (BCDA officials) do your job,” Enrile told representatives of BCDA.
San Fernando City Mayor Mary Jane Ortega told the committee that her administration is wiling to be an active partner in the planning and implementation of Poro Point development programs. She asked not just to be presented with a finished paln of program.

On the other hand, La Union Gov. Victor Ortega lauded Gordon for the senator’s efforts to look into the condition of Poro Point.