BGHMC denies permit to ‘informal settlers’ in area

BAGUIO CITY -- The management of Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) turned down the request of the Baguio City Council to issue temporary clearances to all business owners operating within the BGHMC reservation.
    In his letter to the city council, BGHMC Medical Center Chief II Ricardo Nunez said the BGHMC will not change its stance regarding the clearing of its property from “informal settlers.”
    Runez said granting the requests of affected individuals “will only give them false hopes.”
    “We suggest that instead of dwelling on issues that are non-negotiable, may we avert your attention to the proposal of the relocation of the affected individuals, if necessary. We assure you that you have our full support,” Runez wrote. 
    Earlier, business owners at Camp 8, Kennon Road sought the help of the city council after their business permits were withheld following objection of BGHMC.
    Business owners said they feared that they would lose their means of livelihood and requested assistance of the body for the issuance of their business permits. The area where the business structures are located is part of the lot claimed by BGHMC.
    A survey plan indicated the barangay hall, basketball court and an area in question (all three areas located in Camp 8 Barangay) were within the BGH Reservation under Proclamation 472, s. 1968. 
    In a forum with the city council on Oct. 24, 2022, CPDO representative Elias Aoanan said the issuance of a locational clearance to the business owners in the area is subject to the consent granted by the administration of the BGHMC.
    A locational clearance is a prerequisite to the issuance of a business permit. 
    In the same forum, it was revealed BGHMC was undergoing expansion in accordance with its development plan.
    The said development plan included construction of additional structures to accommodate sub-specialty centers, isolation wards, laboratory building, kidney center, materials recovery facility, medical records building, multi-specialty building to house the heart center, brain center, and operating rooms, and trauma center. 
    The BGHMC has been identified as the APEX Hospital and Referral Center of the North pursuant to the Universal Health Care Act of 2019 (Republic Act No. 11223). -Jordan G. Habbiling