BEHIND THE SCENES

Something ‘fishy’ at Camp John Hay?
ALFRED P. DIZON

BAGUIO CITY – Controversial issues about Camp John Hay, particularly on multi-million peso money matters simply refuse to die down. Now, as to what will happen once the city council and representatives of the Camp John Hay Development Corp. and Ayala Land Inc. will meet on July 28 to appraise the former on development to be undertaken at the tourist facility remains to be seen.

Over the years, despite opposition from concerned citizens and cause-oriented groups, the grapevine had it that magic happened every time a new developer at the former American camp came to fore. So it was with Tuntex, Manuela Corp. and some companies who signified intention to develop and lease the area. The latest developer is the Ayala Land Inc. which the city council would like to scrutinize.
***
Lest we be understood, we are not imputing anything on city officials. Betty Lourdes Tabanda, Elaine Sembrano and Fred Bagbagen had sponsored a resolution adapted by the body stipulating “no further action in relation to the Ayala Land project should be undertaken by the said parties until the briefing shall have been conducted.” Our reading of this sentence is that development could be done in the area -- but the developer must first talk to the councilors. Considering that John Hay was already leased out, whether a public hearing would be held on the matter still remains a point of contention. ***

Reports had it that Ayala Land Inc. will undertake a mega project in John Hay which will include business outsourcing facilities and a retail center covering 12.06 hectares. “The City of Baguio welcomes business investments in the city but it is a primordial concern that the interest of the city and its residents be protected,” the councilors said.

Any developer or businessman worth his salt would not engage in business like developing John Hay if there would be no return of investment. If Ayala would be given the go-signal to start “development” of the area, they are expecting money would be generated in the process. After all, the company is not a charitable institution.
***
Of course, the environmentalists would cry foul (as they did in the past to no avail) if more trees would be cut in the area further depleting its forest cover. But in big business, the name of the game is money. You have to put your money where it matters most to generate more money. And if you have to use it to lessen opposition, then you have to do it if you are the ruthless and pragmatic businessman.

City officials are saying the city government should be adequately informed of plans involving John Hay as the city’s welfare is at stake and since Resolution 362 series of 1994 which imposed 19 conditionalities in the John Hay development remains in effect. The same requires that the city should be consulted on all matters concerning development of the area.

Last July 8, the council’s committee on laws chaired by Councilor Richard Carino conducted a closed-door committee level meeting with representatives of Camp John Hay Development Corp.
***
Vice Mayor Daniel Farinas said the meeting was meant to brief involved parties on laws related to the issue. He said succeeding discussions and presentations on the issue would be done publicly. The closed-door meeting should have done publicly in the first place. When a government body nowadays holds “closed door” meetings, people smell something fishy.

We are not trying to accuse the honorables of fishing. But then, for the sake of transparency and delicadeza, sensitive issues such as these should be done above board before militant or non-government groups would converge at city hall. After all, some groups have to show their foreign funders they are doing something “for the people.”

Anyhow city legal officer Melchor Carlos Rabanes who attended the meeting, was quoted in a city government press release by Aileen Refuerzo “city representatives stressed the city’s stand that the CJHDevCo should first settle its ballooning obligation to the city before allowing any further development inside the facility.” Rabanes said CJHDevCo and Ayala representatives promised to take up the city’s concerns with higher-ups. He added the developer owes around P600 million as of this year representing the city’s 25 percent share from the lease rental.
***
Farinas said CJHDevCo’s Gina Alvarez informed city officials the company paid their obligation to the Bases Conversion Development Authority and it is now up to the BCDA to remit to the city government its share. “If it’s true then, the BCDA should pay the city immediately. There should be transparency in all of these,” Farinas said.
If representatives of the BCDA would be invited to the July 28 meeting, the issue could be brought to fore and if possible -- settled.

P600 million is a huge amount of money which could be used for city government projects like those on livelihood considering reports that grade school children in the summer capital are skipping school or are not performing well in class as they don’t have enough to eat.

This is one reason why officials, no matter how rich they are, should not show off their wealth while majority of their constituents wallow in poverty. This is poor taste, to say the least.