“Global City Within the City” Will Replace Camp Lapu-Lapu Soon

“A global city within the city.”

This is what Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia described as her initial plans following the reacquisition of the prime commercial lots presently occupied by the military’s Camp Lapu-Lapu in Cebu City.

The governor did not yet disclose the potential investors for the 80-hectare property near the Cebu IT Park, but, she said an amphitheater will be built within the first 14 hectares that will be returned to the Capitol.

The huge amphitheater could become a major tourist attraction, said Garcia.

Last October 12, Garcia along with Defense Sec. Gibo Teodoro, and AFP Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr signed a Memorandum of Agreement which would return, in phases, the properties occupied by Camp Lapu back to the Cebu Provincial Government.

In turn, the Capitol will build a replica of Camp Lapu-Lapu headquarters on a vast property between the borders of Tabuelan and Tuburan. The new military camp will be finished within the next two years.

“We will be able to make full use of these properties (presently occupied by Camp Lapu-Lapu) in order to gain more revenues for the Province of Cebu to be translated to more infrastructure and programs for the benefit of the Cebuanos,” Garcia said.

In 1959, the Camp Lapu-Lapu lots were donated by the Capitol for military use. Still, the Visayas Command failed to use the properties for military purposes which prompted the provincial government to start the process of reacquiring the lots since the 1990s.

Teodoro said that the new location of the camp is best suited to the thrust of the government to maintain peace and order in the baselines including the marine resources of the country.

“Not only will Cebu regain what is rightfully hers, but the Armed Forces will not lose because of the replication commitment of the Province of Cebu,” the Defense Secretary said.

“The Armed Forces will have to base and place its units towards the baselines of our archipelagic country in order to secure the unhampered and undisturbed exploration and exploitation of our natural resources not only within the terrestrial part of the Philippines but also with our maritime and aerial domains.”

Governor Garcia for her part said that it was a long and hard fight to reclaim the 80 hectares but promised the military that the provincial government would build a better military camp for them.

“We promise you much better and more efficient buildings that will be constructed perhaps in the next 1.5 years or two years, that should be finished within that period.”

Camp Lapu-Lapu in Cebu City is located near the Cebu IT Park where locators of multinational business process outsourcing firms are based. The park also includes malls, hotels, and high-rise condominiums. (ZAG)