Baguio councilors defy GMA on lot

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY — Local officials here are insisting on the city’s right over the 5.2-hectare property of the Sandiganbayan which was turned over to the local government, virtually defying the order of President Arroyo that a portion of the property will be used to put up the so-called Baguio Mining Museum, the first in the country.

In August, the President announced before local officials that the Presidential Management Staff is giving to the Baguio Historical Mining Museum a portion of the Dominican Hill property which was earlier conveyed to the city government for the realization of the world-class mining museum project.

However, the city government reportedly swapped a portion of the conveyed property to the Sandiganbayan while the rest has been earmarkerd as a heritage park, which is part of the city’s effort to uplift its deteriorating tourism industry.

Despite having allocated a total of 1,000 square meters for the mining museum project, it was a smaller portion of the property although there is a standing order from the President to use a larger portion of the property for the noble project which is being spearheaded by the foundation led by Ambassador Delia Albert.

In its recent regular meeting, the council signified it is not giving up on the property even if the President already gave a larger portion of it to the non-government organization for the noble purpose.

According to the councilors, it seems the President have been reportedly misinformed about the status of the Dominican Hill property because the PMS had already requested the local government for the reconveyance of the property since the city failed to develop the area within five years as required in the deed of conveyance signed in April 2004.

The council demanded the Office of the President to come out with a written report on the Dominican Hill property to serve as its guide in the formulation of programs and projects relative to the utilization of the State-owned property for the satisfaction of both the local government and the concerned groups intending to develop it for noble causes.

The bid of the PMS to reclaim the conveyed property was based on an inspection report of the National Historical Institute (NHI) which stated the area was not restored and developed in accordance to the earlier deed of conveyance and only the fence was improved.

Based on the deed of conveyance, the city government was supposed to allocate P100 million for the five-year development of the property but it was only able to allot a measly P10 million for the improvement of the property’s fence over the past five years, a clear indication it is no longer interested to develop it for the enhancement of its local tourism industry.

The Baguio Historical Mining Museum Foundation intends to develop a mining museum in the said property which will house the different aspects of mining all over the world and will depict the development of this mountain resort city which also traces its progress to the operation of various mining companies in the surrounding towns of Benguet.

The project will be solely funded by the foundation which will source out its revenues from various organizations worldwide so that the establishment of the project will be realized in the future.