BCDA, JHMC and DepEd ink John Hay school deal

The state-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC)—BCDA’s implementing arm in the John Hay Special Economic Zone (JHSEZ)  and John Hay Reservation Area (JHRA) announced that it had recently signed a usufruct agreement with the Department of Education (DepEd) for the latter’s  use of a lot within Camp John Hay to put up a school building.

“It is an honor for the BCDA to partner with DepEd Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC in pursuing DepEd’s plans of  providing the children of Baguio City better education and educational facilities,” BCDA president ArnelPaciano D. Casanova said.

Under the agreement, BCDA will allow the DepEd to use 1,529 square meters of land for free for establishing a school building.

The lot is located at Barangay Country Club and is within Camp John Hay.

According to Casanova, the establishment of a school building is in line with the development of Camp John Hay as a human resource development center.

Casanova noted that the lot will be used solely for support of the school building and other related purposes.

He said the lot will not be used for commercial, industrial, residential, or entertainment purposes except for those business and activities providing support services and only to satisfy the needs and requirements of the learning institution.

For his part, Luistro said this will not be the first and last time that DepEd will be partnering with the BCDA on obtaining lots within John Hay. “We are going to explore with BCDA more usufructuary lots within John Hay for more school buildings,” Luistro said.

He added that plans are underway to ensure that Baguio City will be a city where there will be no out-of-school youth. “The partnership we have with BCDA in putting up the needed facilities will allow us to achieve our goal for the people of Baguio,” Luistro said.

Casanova said some public school buildings within John Hay re built near cliffs and may be prone to landslides not to mention the  high risk  and danger to the children who may fall.

“Our partnership with DepEd will solve this problem and assure the safety of the children,” he said. 

Casanova added aside from school buildings, the BCDA is looking into usufruct agreements with DepEd for training centers as well.