BCDA urged:Comply with dev’t rules Camp John Hay gov’t bodies assailed over ‘oppressive acts’

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Residents here assailed the Bases and Conversion Development Authority and John May Management Corp. for their “oppressive acts” of harassing them and trying to “grab” their water resources.

This, as Mayor Mauricio Domogan was urged by the city council Monday to call for a high-level meeting among all stakeholders at Camp John Hay to achieve a “win-win solution” to issues between John Hay management bodies, city government and barangays.

Councilor Faustino Olowan suggested the mayor-convene dialogue instead of just inviting the BCDA headed by president and chief executive officer ArnelPaciano Casanova and JHMC under president and chief executive officer Jamie Eloise Agbayani to the body to clarify the issues.

“If we get our acts together, I believe that we will find a solution to these problems in the end,” Olowan said.

The body earlier invited Casanova and Agbayani to give an update on their compliance with the 19 conditionalities under Resolution No. 362 series of 1994 and to clarify Paciano’s claims against the city government in a published statement recently but as in the past, they begged off.

Instead as a prelude to the dialogue, the body decided to hear the grievances of the heads of the barangays located in the Camp John Hay reservation and a representative of the Camp John Hay Development Corporation (CJHDevCo).

Punong barangay Magdalena Lambac of Greenwater Village said JHMC’s move to apply for water rights over their water source is appalling and saddening.

“They did not only comply with the segregation of our barangay now they also want to get our water source,” she lamented.

Punong barangay FerdinanceBucad of Hillside said they feel “oppressed and harassed” by BCDA and JHMC’s actuations which he said they did not experience during the time when the Americans were still occupying the former military facility.

“During that time, the barangays were treated as partners and allies but now the BCDA and JHMC who are supposed to be our guardians and supporters are the ones oppressing and harassing us.  They are not pro-community,” he said.

He said JHMC and BCDA should stop “grabbing” their water sources and displaying their big group of security men that cause alarm and terror in their peaceful community.

“I just hope we could resolve all these issues in a peaceful manner,” he said.

Punong barangay Soriano Palunan of Happy Hallow barangay decried BCDA and JHMC’s continued opposition to their application for ancestral domain title which he said even the city recognizes.

CJHDevCo property management officer ZaldyMasarate said they will join the city and the barangays in opposing JHMC’s water rights application especially if it covers the same water sources that were granted to them in the past.

He said at present CJHDevCo has water rights over four water sources within their leased area.

The city council suggested to the mayor that the following agencies be invited during the meeting with the stakeholders: the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Dept. of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, Department of Public Works and Highways, Baguio Water District, the National Housing Authority and Housing Land Use and Regulatory Board and others.

This, as Domogan expressed disappointment over  non-compliance of the John Hay bodies on 19 conditions set for the development of former American military camp.

Domogan hit BCDA’s declaration that it would follow existing laws on special economic zones.

The city government said it is ready to file a complaint against the BCDA to make the latter comply with the conditions set under Resolution 362.

Agbayani met with Domoganearlier to discuss the matter.

Domogan said nothing concrete was agreed upon during the meeting.

Agbayani told Domogan the JHMC would coordinate with a technical working group in order to come up with the best way to implement Resolution 362.

Domogan said the BCDA, through its implementing arm JHMC, has not been honoring the conditions.

Among the latest issues was BCDA’s application for a special patent over Camp John Hay, which was denied by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional office.

“It’s good that the DENR-(Cordillera Administrative Region) denied the application because the city government will lose its rights over Camp John Hay once it is patented,” Domogan said.

The city government condemned BCDA’s application for rights over the water sources of three villages at the camp.

It also questioned the alleged extension of a lease contract to a company for 75 years, as the original lease agreement was only for 50 years.