Baguio council to Ayala: Resume CJH horse-riding
>> Wednesday, June 23, 2021
By Jordan G.
Habbiling
BAGUIO CITY -- City council passed a resolution Monday requesting the Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) to allow the 159 horse handlers to resume their horseback riding business at Camp John Hay.
The council’s request was prompted by the appeal of Jason Alkera, president of the Kabadjo Handlers Association, Inc. (KHAI).
In his letter to the city council dated May 5, 2021, Alkera said that the non-operation of the horseback riding activities at Camp John Hay since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected the 159 members of the association. He appealed for the resumption of their business and promised that all health and safety protocols imposed by the city government and Inter-Agency Task Force will be complied with when they resume operations.
Councilor Joel Alangsab informed the council about a letter dated March 8, 2021 by the John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) addressed to Alkera.
In the letter, JHMC stated that the area where the association used to occupy for their horse-for-hire business is covered by contracts of leases with ALI and Rocky Mountain Arabica Coffee Corporation (RMACC), thus cannot negotiate and enter a contract with the association.
The JHMC also stated
that John Hay Economic Special Zone is still closed to tourists and that
leisure activities therein are discouraged considering the ongoing national
public health emergency brought about by Covid-19.
Alkera told the council
the association had been sending numerous letters to ALI concerning their
appeal but had not received any response.
Alkera stated in his
second letter to the council dated June 15, 2021 that they had tried to locate
and contact RMACC regarding their appeal but failed in view of the pandemic.
In the same resolution
passed by the council, ALI was further requested to consider the prospect of
entering a contract with the association.
The council likewise
requested the City Tourism Office to make representations on behalf of the
displaced horse handlers.
Aloysius Mapalo, City
Tourism Officer, said his office does not object to the resumption of horseback
riding operations at Camp John Hay since tourism activities have gradually been
allowed to resume in the city. His office is willing to make an endorsement in
favor of the Kabadjo Handlers Association, he added.
The association started
its horse-for-rent operations in 2001. However, its contract with the CJH
Development Corporation (CJHDevco) ended in 2018.
Meanwhile, the City
Veterinarian and Agriculture Office (CVAO) informed the council that, as of the
last reporting date, 24 horses are afflicted with Equine Infectious Anemia
(EIA). These horses are currently isolated and being monitored. Of the number,
three are owned by the Kabadjo Handlers Association.
The CVAO is currently
administering deworming medicines and vitamins to these horses. Dr. Gladys Bantog
of CVAO said there is no cure for EIA yet, but their office is performing
preventive measures to avoid the transfer of infection to other horses.
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