MANILA, Philippines--The National Police Commission on Friday defended the joint venture agreement to develop its 7.1-hectare Fort Bonifacio property in Taguig City and denied the allegations by the Philippine Public Safety College Employees Association that the school was not informed of the deal.

"The concept is a first in terms of how a department can maximize the properties it owns," Napolcom Vice Chair Eduardo Escueta said in an interview.

The Napolcom and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority entered into a joint venture agreement with a consortium of Megaworld Corp. for the development of the Fort Bonifacio property.

The Department of Interior and Local Government then ordered the PPSC?which administers mandatory trainings to police, fire and jail personnel and occupies 3.8 ha of the Napolcom property?to vacate the premises by Nov. 5 and relocate in a temporary site.

Escueta explained that the land swap scheme would be beneficial to the government as it entails no cash out. The Megaworld will also construct an office building in Quezon City and a residential building in Aurora Boulevard for Napolcom.

On allegations that the PPSC was not informed of the agreement, Escueta showed a letter addressed to DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno and signed by PPSC president Margarita Cojuangco.

The letter, dated May, 2, 2008, was asking for budget for the relocation of PPSC. The joint venture agreement was signed in August 2008.