FORMER Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has stepped down as Chairman of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), a key agency responsible for developing former military bases into economic centers.
Lorenzana, a retired Army general, was appointed BCDA chair just a week before his retirement from government service. In a statement released on Tuesday, he expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for the opportunity to lead the agency.
During his tenure, Lorenzana prioritized supporting the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program. The BCDA is a significant source of funding for this program, and Lorenzana pledged to allocate 36 percent of the agency’s earnings to the AFP’s modernization efforts.
“I am honored to have led this vital agency and to have contributed to the AFP modernization efforts,” Lorenzana said. He expressed pride in the accomplishments achieved by the BCDA under his leadership, thanking the Board of Directors, Management, and staff for their dedication.
Lorenzana congratulated his fellow Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class ’69 alumnus, retired Police General Thompson Lantion, who has been appointed as his successor. “With decades of government experience and tested leadership, I am confident that Chairman Lantion will be able to sustain – if not surpass – the progress that we have made in BCDA,” Lorenzana said.
Despite his transition to private life, Lorenzana expressed his commitment to continuing to support the government in any way possible.
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