New BCDA president is first woman head

THE new president of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is a career official in the agency and the first woman to head it, the BCDA said in a statement on Sunday.

Aileen Anunciacion R. Zosa took her oath at Malacañang on Aug. 11, the agency said.

“For the development of our properties, we have introduced three major components that will distinguish our properties from the pack and make our projects more globally competitive. These are sustainability, gender diversity and gender sensitivity, as well as smart components. Our projects should embed those three important elements,” Ms. Zosa said.

The BCDA is a government-owned and -controlled corporation tasked with redeveloping former military bases to fund Armed Forces modernization.

Ms. Zosa promised to develop the BCDA to be “more responsive and efficient in the delivery of projects.”

Ms. Zosa replaces Aristotle B. Batuhan, who had served as officer-in-charge starting October 2021.

According to the BCDA, Ms. Zosa began her BCDA career as the manager for corporate planning and project development and successive promotions to vice-president and executive vice-president and chief operating officer.

“Ms. Zosa will be bringing to the table 27 years of institutional knowledge with the BCDA and know-how in the fields of business development and public policy, aside from more than a decade’s worth of experience in various academic and bureaucratic positions in the public sector including the Senate, the Office of the President, and the Commission on Audit,” the BCDA said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave