BAGUIO CITY
– Despite threats from the city government of being sued, the state-owned Bases Conversion and
Development Authority (BCDA) said segregation of remaining 13 barangays in the
John Hay Reservation Area (JHRA) is ongoing and being implemented consistent
with its charter under Republic 7227.
BCDA president and CEO Arnel Paciano D. Casanova bared this amidst
threats from Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan to file a case for
specific performance against BCDA for breach of “conditionalities” set
under Resolution No. 362, series of 1994.
The conditions were set by the city government for management of the former
American military rest and recreation camp after this was turned over by the
American government to the Philippines.
“Rather than criticize the BCDA,” Casanova urged the city mayor “to support
the BCDA in its bid to collect public funds amounting to some P3.4 billion in
rental arrears from delinquent lessee Camp John Hay Development Corporation
(CJHDevco), in which the City of Baguio stands to receive 25 percent
or P850 million.”
Domogan earlier reacted to an advertisement published in a local paper
by the BCDA airing the same allegations.
The mayor’s responses, along with Rep. Nicasio Aliping Jr., saying among
others that the BCDA did not remit rentals of Camp John Hay to the city
government, establishments inside CJH were not paying business taxes to the
city on instigation of BCDA officials, water supply of barangays within and
near John Hay were in danger of being taken over by the BCDA as the latter
applied with the National Water Resources Board for water rights, BCDA was
segregating barangays without consulting the city government, among
others.
In a press statement Friday, Casanova said, “BCDA is currently
undertaking segregation of the remaining 13 barangays, by parcel, and the mayor
should concentrate on collecting what is due to Baguio City from the
Sobrepena-led CJHDevCo.”
He said that P850 million due to Baguio City can be used for
various infrastructure and social services programs and projects such as the
construction of 31 3-storey, 9-classroom buildings at P27
million each or more than one million doses of measles vaccine or
the upgrading of hospital equipment that will benefit the
entire Baguio City community.
“Baguio City can help solve its garbage problem with their P850 million
share,” Casanova added.
Casanova assured the Baguio community that BCDA is sincere in its
efforts to segregate the parcels of land to qualified beneficiaries, which
include Country Club Village, Upper Dagsian, Lower Dagsian, Sta. Escolastica,
Hillside, Happy Hollow, Green Water, LoakanApugan, Loakan Proper, Camp 7,
LoakanLiwanang, Lucnab and Outlook Drive.
“We also call on the local government to focus its efforts in
curbing professional squatting in these barangays to protect the legitimate
beneficiaries against corrupt individuals who are exploiting and engaging in
professional squatting,” Casanova said.
The BCDA chief executive said the government agency is “taking the
fastest way legally possible for the qualified beneficiaries to get their
titles.”
He said only a presidential proclamation can finalize the segregation
process, which serves as the basis of awarding the land to qualified
beneficiaries.
An inter-agency technical working group for barangay segregation
composed of BCDA, JHMC, Baguio City government, National Commission on
Indigenous People, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National
Housing Authority, and the Barangay Chairmen of the 13 affected barangay has
completed the relocation and structural survey and utility survey of all 13
barangays.
The surveys allowed BCDA and John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) —its
management arm in the JHSEZ and JHRA—to establish the metes and bounds of each
barangay due for segregation.
Casanova said despite the challenges, BCDA and JHMC were able to finish
the survey in view of complying with its mandate under RA 7227.
To date, Barangay Scout Barrio has already been segregated and awarded to
qualified residents in 2005.
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