BAGUIO CITY – The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) has assured assistance for Korean retirees here who were affected by the takeover of the former leased areas of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) at Camp John Hay including the hotels, where around 40 of them are residing.
“The prime mandate of PRA is to entice foreign retirees to make PH their second home. And part is to protect or assist our retiree members because it is our way of thanking them for choosing the Philippines as their second home,” said Eric De Ausen Pati, chief of the PRA North Luzon Satellite Office, in an interview on Monday.
He said the PRA management has ordered his office to check on the situation of the foreign retirees.
“The PRA is one of the top contributors in the national treasury because of our foreign retirees,” he said.
The Korean retirees have invested and bought condotels in the Manor Hotel and Forest Lodge, where some of them have resided since 2014. Some of them are in their 70s and 80s. There is also a young family with a baby among those allegedly evicted.
Pati said they respect the Supreme Court’s decision on the takeover but said they have to ensure the foreign retirees’ welfare so that it would not impact the promotion of the country’s retirement industry.
The Korean nationals who faced the Baguio media on Saturday said they just wanted a place where they could stay in peace until 2046 or while they were alive.
Jangean Lee, 82, said in the Korean language: “We have been enjoying our second homes until after the takeover.”
The BCDA took over the leased area from the former developer of Camp John Hay starting on Jan. 6 following the court sheriff’s implementation of the Supreme Court order.
He said, “It is very hard for us to accept why we would be evicted without due process because of the conflict between DevCo (Camp John Hay Development Corporation) and BCDA. From our understanding, democracy is rooted from the fact that we were able to possess our own property. We could own our units until 2046 under the government’s blessing. Now that the Supreme Court decision is affecting us without our knowledge, it is very hard for us to accept.”
Sungil Lee, 70, said, “I am very saddened that I will stop what I do giving scholarship because I will have to go home after my eviction from my home.”
He said that he came to Baguio as a pastor, thinking he could stay while he was alive, doing charity works but things might now change.
Heewoong Ahn, who is in his 30s and married to a Filipino woman, with whom he has a child, said, “We hope that reporters give us a voice and help us bring our situation to the authorities so that we can resolve the situation peacefully.” **Liza Agoot
