BAGUIO CITY, May 18 – Mayor Mauricio Domogan is hopeful of achieving a “win-win” solution for the Camp John issue under the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
During the weekly press briefing late Wednesday afternoon, Domogan said he talked with Vivencio Dizon, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president and chief executive officer, about the situation in Camp John Hay.
He said Dizon agreed with his stand that a “win-win” solution must be achieved to benefit the government through the BCDA, private developer Camp John Hay Development Corporation (CJHDevCo) and Baguio City, which is host to the former United States military rest and recreation facility.
Domogan talked about the case between the BCDA and the Sobrepeña-led CJHDevCo, which waged court battles regarding their rights, ownership, management and rentals over Camp John Hay.
The mayor said the decision of the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc.(PDRCI) in 2015, which ordered CJHDevCo to return the leased property to the government through the BCDA after the latter returns the almost PHP1.4 billion in lease rental paid by the private developer, is a loss on the part of the city. CJHDevCo leased the premises in 1996. Being the host, Baguio is entitled to a 25 percent share from the rentals.
Referring to the city’s shares, Domogan said “paano makakolekta (how can we collect)?”
Based on the computation during the pendency of the case, the BCDA said that CJHDevCo owed the government PHP3.2 billion in unpaid rentals. From this amount, if correct, the city is entitled to at least PHP800 million as its share.
Caught in the middle, “the city is at the losing end,” the mayor said.
Under the administration of President Duterte and with Dizon agreeing to the city government’s sentiment, the city government is hopeful that there will be a solution that will not only benefit the BCDA and the CJHDevCo but also the city as host local government unit, the mayor said.** Liza T. Agoot/ PNA
