6,000 await Camp John Hay land ownership

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY– More than 6,000 families are waiting for the chance to own the land where their houses are erected once President Aquino III approves the segregation of 13 barangays from the 686-hectare Camp John Hay watershed and forest reservation area.

Rep. Bernardo M. Vergara, vice chairman of the House committee on public works, said beneficiaries have been in physical possession of their houses and lots “since time immemorial.”

Under the Bases Conversion and Development Authority law, the President is empowered to segregate and depose of portions of land within former base lands such as the John Hay Air Station, subject to the approval by Congress.

Vergara is pushing for the presidential proclamation that will segregate the 13 barangays, pursuant to the 19 conditions imposed by the city government for the development of the former American rest and recreation center.

Earlier, Scout Barrio, one of the 14 barangays located within the jurisdiction of CJH, was segregated from the aforesaid reservation by virtue of a proclamation issued by former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Vergara said this shows the national government’s commitment to fulfilling the 19 conditionalities for the development of CJH as enshrined under the provisions of resolution 362, series of 1994 of the City Council of Baguio.

Vergara said efforts are being done by national and local leaders to segregate the 13 other barangays since the 11th Congress, adding that the Senate will concur with the proposed bill to segregate the barangays from the reservation.