INQUIRER FILES
TACLOBAN CITY 鈥� The Provincial Board of Leyte has approved a resolution inviting the Department of National Defense (DND) to consider the province as a site for expansion plans to establish naval bases and airstrips nationwide.
Board Member Carlo Loreto, the resolution author, said it is logical for DND to build its facility in Leyte, strategically located at the heart of the Visayas.
鈥淚鈥檓 confident that logic will prevail over irrational bias,鈥� he said in an online interview on Dec. 4, the day after the provincial board approved his resolution.
Loreto said they would conduct consultations with various sectors to address potential concerns about the proposal.
He expressed optimism that the people would support the initiative to enhance defense and economic opportunities.
鈥淓nemies will stay away because Leyte will have more naval ships, warplanes, and uniformed personnel in the vicinity,鈥� Loreto said.
鈥淲hat this proposal is sure to entice are investments in ancillary industries such as restaurants, warehouses, hotels, and other commercial establishments, creating more business and meaningful employment opportunities,鈥� he added.
Loreto, who once served as vice governor of Leyte, said the proposal highlights the province鈥檚 commitment to contributing to national security while fostering economic development through strategic defense investments.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro announced plans to construct additional naval bases and airstrips nationwide as part of the DND鈥檚 strategy to bolster the country鈥檚 defense capabilities.
These facilities would also support, in particular, the Philippine Navy鈥檚 new assets under the Armed Forces of the Philippines鈥� modernization program.
This week, Teodoro confirmed plans to build a new naval base in Misamis Oriental to serve as the Philippine Navy鈥檚 central operations hub in Mindanao.
Loreto said identifying the specific site for the proposed facility in Leyte would be the responsibility of DND experts.
鈥淭he DND will have technical experts to select areas based on their specific parameters. Even the designs and layouts will only be accessible to officials with the proper clearances,鈥� he said.