DND asked to utilize AFP golf courses to raise funds

(Updated 11:59 a.m.) Sen. Franklin Drilon on Wednesday asked the Department of National Defense (DND) to utilize the state-owned golf courses in Metro Manila in order to gain additional funding for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Drilon, chairman of the Senate finance committee, said there are around five golf courses for the AFP in Metro Manila that can be used for a better purpose. "We have around 150 to 200 hectares of prime land used as golf courses and yet these can be used to modernize the Armed Forces," he said during Wednesday's hearing on the proposed budget of the DND for 2012. He specifically cited the Veterans Golf Course in Quezon City which is worth P11.5 billion but is only getting P1.6 million in annual revenue. "Don't you see the disparity? You have an asset worth P11.5 billion (but) you have a revenue of P1.6 million. Do we need a golf coruse for the welfare of our sick and wounded soliders?" he said. Because of this, he asked Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin to give them a plan that would fully utilize the state asset. "If we can be more innovative, we can modernize our Armed Forces faster," he said. Gazmin, a retired military general, responded that they still have to "reconcile" the titles of the land. "There are discrepancies in the titles of the land," he said, adding that there is a need to come up with some laws to utilize the golf course for another purpose. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, on the other hand, suggested that they also consider earmarking a part of the Malampaya funds for the AFP modernization plan. The Senate hearing was ongoing as of posting time. — RSJ, GMA News