Viscom transfer timeline uncertain as DND weighs funding, operational requirements

Local

THE proposed transfer of the Visayas Command (Viscom) headquarters from Camp Lapu-Lapu in Cebu City remains without a definite timetable as the Department of National Defense (DND) weighs funding requirements, infrastructure needs and the continuity of military operations and services.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the department is working to address concerns surrounding the military facility, including the need to provide adequate space, electricity and water, while also considering access requests from residents who need to pass around the camp.

“I'm sure that not only the space but the power requirements and the water requirements are met,” Teodoro told reporters during a media interview in Cebu on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

He said the government also needs to address residents' access concerns and pointed to a retention area provided under a compromise agreement, which he described as a mutually beneficial arrangement.

“I think it's a win-win. We have to be based where we operate from,” he said.

However, Teodoro could not commit to a timetable for the proposed transfer, citing competing priorities within the department and the substantial funding needed to relocate the command.

He said the DND also wants to ensure that any eventual transfer would be seamless, given VISCOM's responsibilities beyond military operations.

The command also supports personnel services, joint and combined operations, and assistance for military veterans, making continuity of these functions an important consideration in any relocation plan.

Teodoro made the remarks at the sidelines of an awarding ceremony at the VISCOM headquarters, where he personally conferred the Secretary of National Defense Service Medals on military and uniformed personnel who helped secure the country's hosting of the 20th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting and the 30th ADMM-Plus in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, last month.

He commended the security forces for their coordination and meticulous planning, noting that the high-level gathering, attended by defense officials from ASEAN member-states and dialogue partners, concluded without security incidents.

He also recognized the contributions of local governments, the police, the Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fire Protection and other agencies in ensuring the event's successful conduct.(MyTVCebu)