City gov’t to bid out operation of Asin resort

BAGUIO CITY  – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan ordered concerned offices of the local government to prepare terms of reference for public bidding of operation of Asin  hotspring resort located in Tadiangan,Tuba, Benguet.

Domogan said the local government won the case it filed against the previous resort operator, thus  is now inviting qualified operators to bid in the operation of the Asin hot spring resort.

Eugene Buyocan, assistant City General Services Officer, revealed personnel of the local government already served the notice of eviction to Roger Sinot but the latter continued operating the facility after the city staff left.

Buyocan recommended assignment of permanent personnel to guard the government property from illegal occupation.

Domogan claimed the best remedy to the current predicament of the city is to formulate the terms of reference to justify the conduct of public bidding for the operation of the resort so that the operator will eventually vacate the area.

According to him, the city must already possess this property to maximize the use of the resort as venue for seminars and outdoor activities not only for city officials and employees but also for the paying public.

Earlier, a local court ordered the eviction of Sinot as operator of the Asin hot spring resort and ordered him to pay the local government the amount of more than P800,000 in alleged accumulated rentals and surcharges for having operated the city-owned property over several decades now.

While the local government is awaiting the conduct of the bidding process, the City General Services Office was advised to hire job order personnel who will be assigned in the area to guard the swimming pool and other facilities within the Asin resort from being willfully used by the former operator and other people living in the area.

The Asin hot spring resort is one of the most frequented places in the nearby town of Tuba because of its therapeutic properties and it serves as rest and recreation area for local residents considering its proximity from the city, being 16 kilometers away from the city proper or 45-minute drive along paved roads.