Transformational Leadership with Compassion

MORE THAN TRANSFORMING FORMER MILITARY BASES INTO CENTERS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, BASES CONVERSION AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN HILARIO B. PAREDES IS TRANSFORMING THE CORPORATION’S APPROACH TO ACHIEVING ITS VISION.

I want to get things done. I want them done the best way possible at the soonest possible time.” This, in a nutshell, is the approach that Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) Chairman Atty. Hilario B. Paredes has used to turn things around at the development corporation tasked with converting former military bases into civilian use and promoting economic development.

Paredes’ dynamic and visionary leadership style became apparent when he was appointed as BCDA chairman in October 2024, not long after he joined the board of directors. Making good use of nearly three decades of experience in law and business, Paredes—the youngest chairman of the BCDA in its 33-year history—has been instrumental in steering the Conversion Authority toward greater transparency, innovation, and sustainable development.

A VISIONARY LEADER WITH A TRANSFORMATIONAL APPROACH

Paredes' leadership is characterized by a transformational style that emphasizes strategic partnerships, institutional excellence, and long-term national development. His strong legal and business background has been instrumental in fostering public private partnerships and driving key infrastructure projects. With him at the helm, the country has seen BCDA strengthen its role in national development, aligning with the government's "Build Better More" infrastructure program.

“As chairman, as head of the board of directors, my main job is to establish policy and oversee management. My biggest priority is to make sure that we follow our mandate under Republic Act 7227, which states that BCDA is to transform military bases into areas or centers of growth and economic development, at the same time protect the environment. So we want to make sure that this mandate is followed, that we build smart, sustainable, resilient, and liveable cities,” Paredes stresses.

“I oversee everything, and the main focus of my chairmanship is to have transformational leadership with compassion. When we say transformational leadership with compassion, we combine a visionary and change-driven leadership with a deep sense of empathy and care for others. So while we lead the people to a bold vision, we also make sure not to lose sight of their welfare. Thus, we take care of them also,” he says.

JOURNEY TO THE BCDA CHAIRMANSHIP

Paredes' professional and personal background have prepared him well for the serious task of being BCDA chairman. From the fields of law and business to sports, his work and personal experiences have shaped him into a leader tailor-fit for his present job.

The chairman earned his juris doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law, f inishing as one of the topnotchers of his batch. A consistent academic achiever, he was a dean’s lister while taking his political science degree also at the Ateneo, and graduated at the top of his grade school and high school classes at the Divine Word College of Bangued in Abra. He also completed a course on public policy at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore in 2023.

“For almost three decades, I have been navigating the world of law and business,” Paredes says. He established Paredes Law Group in 2006, specializing in banking and corporate f inance; infrastructure and telecommunications; and mergers and acquisitions. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to build a practice that tackled legal issues surrounding some of the country’s major infrastructure projects, making sure these are built right for the benefit of everyone. I’ve also represented and helped bring in the country’s third major telco, opening the industry to more competition,” he shares.

“But law is not my only passion,” he adds. “I get to explore my entrepreneurial side through Paredes Holdings, which holds stakes in real estate, leisure, technology companies, and restaurants.” The company, he says, has given him “a whole different kind of adventure, learning about business and how it works.” “Beyond the courtroom and boardroom, I also established the Asian Center for Legal Excellence to provide continuing education for Filipino lawyers.” The Supreme Court-accredited provider of mandatory continuing legal education is dedicated to “ensuring that our legal professionals remain well-versed in the ever-evolving legal landscape.” Part of Paredes’ early exposure to the practice of law came in 1994, when he served as trainee at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 96 under then Presiding Judge Lucas Bersamin. Bersamin went on to become Supreme Court chief justice, and is presently the country’s executive secretary.

MAKING AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT

Despite having been chairman for just half a year, Paredes has made a significant impact at BCDA. Serving as his major guide is the BCDA mandate of building great cities while helping strengthen the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Under his leadership, BCDA remains a major force in creating economic opportunities in the country through the establishment of integrated developments, dynamic business centers, and vibrant communities.

The chairman mentions the successful recovery of Camp John Hay and accelerated efforts to bring in high-impact investments that will result in employment and economic opportunities for locals. He also mentions the continuing push for amendments to the BCDA Charter, meant to unlock the full potential of the country’s economic zones.

BCDA has also secured approval of a number of important infrastructure projects expected to pave the way for the further development of our economic zones. These include the first phase of the New Clark City underground utility corridor, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas access road in New Clark City, the construction of a residential complex at Bonifacio Naval Station Lot 1, and the upgrading of UN Avenue at the Morong Discovery Park.

Under his watch, BCDA will soon have its own headquarters building, as a contract has been awarded for the construction of its own building that will house its various offices. In addition, contracts have been signed regarding water services as well as housing facilities in New Clark City.

On top of all these, and as proof of the chairman’s genuine concern for BCDA employees, they now receive increased compensation and benefits. Paredes is quick to deflect credit for the above accomplishments, however. “None of these would have happened at such an impressive pace without the hard work of the BCDA workforce, its management and board of directors, as well as its private partners. Their support has been instrumental in getting things done, and I’m grateful to be part of such a collaborative environment,” he says.

DESPITE HAVING BEEN CHAIRMAN FOR JUST HALF A YEAR, PAREDES HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AT BCDA. SERVING AS HIS MAJOR GUIDE IS THE BCDA MANDATE OF BUILDING GREAT CITIES WHILE HELPING STRENGTHEN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES.

LANDMARK LEGAL VICTORIES

The past year has seen BCDA score important legal victories. Foremost among these are those dealing with the recovery of Camp John Hay and favorable rulings involving the Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill. These developments have helped pave the way for BCDA to better pursue its mission and vision.

In April 2024, the Supreme Court ended a protracted legal battle centering on the lease of Camp John Hay in Baguio to a private company. Camp John Hay Development Corporation (CJHDevCo) took over the lease from another consortium in 1996, after which it built hotels, prime residences, and a golf course within the former American rest and recreation facility. A dispute arose in 2012 over the restructuring of the lease agreement, and such lease was rescinded by the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center in 2015. CJHDevCo was ordered to return all properties to the government while the BCDA must reimburse expenditures to the company. CJHDevCo and its sublessees contested the decision, and the case reached the Court of Appeals, which amended the decision. However, the Supreme Court overruled the appellate court’s decision, paving the way for the government to take full control of the prime property. The takeover was peaceful and seamless.

The chairman hailed the High Court’s decision, describing it as “a victory not just for the government, but for all Filipinos.” The ruling, he says, recognizes that all Filipinos, and not just one corporation or person, should gain economic and social opportunities from the development of Camp John Hay.

“I am glad to share that since our successful recovery of Camp John Hay on January 6, we have brought in over Php 1.2 billion in investments from major industry players like Metro Pacific Investment Corporation's subsidiary Landco Pacific, and small and medium-scale enterprises like Duck World, GolfPlus Management Inc., Amare La Cucina, and Top Taste and Trading, Inc. ,” Paredes shares. “We have also secured over 100 residential lease agreements in just two months, representing nearly 100 percent of the total residential properties in Camp John Hay.”

In line with Paredes’ compassionate leadership and respect for the rule of law, BCDA has assured hotel unit investors who lost their hard-earned money of needed assistance. This includes “temporary hotel accommodations, translation services for foreign nationals, and helping them explore legal remedies.” BCDA is “closely working with relevant government agencies for a just and fair resolution for all stakeholders.”

Meanwhile, in February this year, the Court of Appeals nullified a Tarlac court’s order that previously prohibited the BCDA and Clark Development Corporation from recovering the 100-hectare Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill in Capas, Tarlac. “This brings us closer toward pursuing a waste-to-energy technology which is a more sustainable alternative to landfills,” Paredes stresses. “With New Clark City being the country’s model for sustainable cities, we have to align our plans and programs with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and maintaining a landfill in the heart of the New Clark City isn’t the way to go.

With smart cities Singapore and Taipei as pegs, BCDA is currently conducting a study for a proposed waste-to-energy facility in an optimal location in Tarlac. The planned facility will boost power supply and satisfy the energy requirements of locators and investors in New Clark City. The cherry on top was when BCDA was recognized as one of the top-performing government-owned and-controlled corporations for 2023, achieving a remakable milestone as one of the top state firms for nine straight years.

LEADING BCDA’S TRANSFORMATION Transformation is a key concept in Paredes’ programs toward achieving BCDA’s vision. A major ingredient in the transformation process is capacity building.

 “Our biggest asset is our employees. And we are now moving toward building the skills of our people. We're looking  at partnering with educational institutions so that we will have better, well equipped people to handle the major projects that we are going to start,” he states.

Digressing from the previous approach of mostly disposing of assets and letting the private sector develop such, BCDA now takes a much more active role in the development of former bases and military facilities. This means a bigger income in the long run, rather than a one-time income from the assets’ sale.

The above, Paredes says, is part of their “vision to set an example for everyone, for all local government units, national government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations, that an entity like BCDA can help lead the way for economic development through transformation and with compassion for our people. We will be generating a lot of employment, a lot of investments; and BCDA will be a major force in economic development. So our vision is to be the role model, to be the example of all government agencies in the Philippines for economic development.”

Paredes’ brand of transformational leadership has played and will continue to play a major role in the BCDA’s transformation. “We have a transformational leadership that has compassion for its people, for the Filipino people, and for a stronger, more resilient and more economically sound and strong republic, which will take care of its people,” he says.

STRENGTHENING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH TRANSPARENCY As BCDA’s programs and projects involve large sums of money, transparency and accountability are expected of its leadership and people at all times.

“BCDA, in partnership with the public and private sectors, is guided by global best practices and lessons learned from the past,” Paredes stresses. “From Bonifacio Global City to the growing Clark metropolis, our work is generating high-impact investments and bringing in job and economic opportunities to various communities.”

“We do all these through collaborative stakeholder discussions, identifying and implementing solutions that effectively address challenges and ultimately create more beneficial outcomes for all. We hold regular dialogues with affected communities and related government agencies to ensure that everyone is part of the development benefitting them with employment opportunities and improved access and connectivity for their livelihood,” he adds.

“Building smart and liveable cities enables us to continue fulfilling our commitment to strengthening the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Since the BCDA’s  creation, our cumulative contributions to the AFP has reached Php59.71 billion. This represents the biggest chunk of the total asset disposition proceeds from 1993 to 2023,” Paredes reveals.

The chairman stresses that all of BCDA’s transactions are done in accordance with law and set procedures. “We remit the proceeds from our disposition program annually to the Bureau of Treasury. Afterwards, it is the Department of Budget and Management that releases the shares to the beneficiary agencies based on budget guidelines and the approved fiscal program of the government,” he clarifies. “And with respect to transparency, our activities and programs are public and our books are open. We have several ways of communicating and sharing information with the general public through traditional media, social media, etc.”

With some of BCDA’s programs and projects being received negatively by some quarters, Paredes declares that they welcome everybody’s opinions and suggestions. “It's understandable that people, especially from the affected communities, would express concerns or questions—even opposition—to our projects because we're handling impactful projects, projects of huge magnitude that's going to affect their lives. We value the voice of everyone, their comments, their suggestions and we take these into consideration in our decision-making process,” Paredes explains. “What we do is we engage them in meaningful discussions. We continue to explain what the policies are, what our projects are for.”

LOOKING BEYOND MERE AWARENESS

Indeed, Paredes’ transformational leadership has significantly advanced BCDA's mission of converting former military bases into catalysts for national development. His strategic vision, commitment to good governance, and innovative initiatives have positioned BCDA as a model agency, contributing to the Philippines' sustainable and inclusive growth.

Paredes recognizes the fact that not many Filipinos are aware of the BCDA’s existence and its mission and vision, admitting that before he was appointed as director, he himself did not know much about it. Raising public awareness, he says, “is a work in progress” and will soon be a matter of course. “What we want is to live up to our mandate of transformation and implement our programs to benefit the Filipino people. We would want to be known for our achievements toward positive change while creating a culture within where people feel inspired and valued,” he ends.