By Danilo P. Padua, PhD
Many are not familiar with the fact that the Maharlika Livelihood Complex is under the administration of the Department of Agriculture for the last 12 years. Specifically, it is attached directly to the office of the Department Secretary.
MLC is a project of the Human Settlements and Development Corporation which was created during the Marcos Sr. administration. It was actually a brainchild of the former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos. It made a 50-year contract with the city government of Baguio, commencing in 1975.
In 2013, HSDC – a government-owned and controlled corporation, was abolished. For what reason? I don’t know. It had various investments around the Philippines, some of them were worth more than PhP20.0M. A tidy sum, I would say considering that they were invested before the year 2000.
It’s best investment, to my mind, is the establishment of the iconic MLC which is easily one of the least problematic projects, and earning well. That is probably because of the very good working relationship between HSDC and the Baguio city government from start to finish.
Left orphan, HSDC was “adopted” by the department of agriculture just after its abolition. Or, rather, the DA was designated as the caretaker. The liquidation planning was the least of its concern at the beginning, for lack of proper guidelines. That is why liquidation dragged on for quite some time.
Many other similarly abolished GOCCs were liquidated quickly as they were not as profitable as HSDC.
It is not difficult to understand then that HSDC was allowed to still function as an economic enterprise, sans its GOCC tag, while it slowly undergo the liquidation process. The thriving MLC is the heart of it all.
That is why, it was the DA that turned over the Complex to the city of Baguio after the 50–year contract lapsed, in a May 29, 2025 turn-over ceremony at the Maharlika lobby.
In that ceremony, GM Robert Arevalo, MajorGen(Ret.) mentioned with nostalgia, about the stone carving of an eagle that once adorned the entrance of the stone market located in the same spot as the MLC. It was constructed in 1917, more than a hundred years ago
That eagle has returned to roost with the city government. It still exists, becoming in the words of GM Arevalo, “a symbol of the city’s resilience – a reminder of the rich heritage of the hardworking and industrious natives and residents of the city”. MLC might as well be called as the eagle.
The eagle may have been an almost invisible inspiration of many who testified in a video during the turn-over ceremony that they progressed, thrived, and financially able to support their children and families, and more by doing business at MLC.
Gen. Arevalo is confident that with mayor Maglong at the helm, and a new set of city officials helping him, the turn-over is not a goodbye but is a signal of a new beginning for a better future for MLC and the city.
DA Undersecretary Roger Navarro however ended his message with a very happy goodbye insinuating that the eagle will continue to fly even higher after the turn-over.
Well, Mayor Magalong expressed his very warm welcome to the return of the eagle. He even stated his clear, definite and unequivocal support to the eagle but expecting others to cooperate in return. He actually worked for the handing-over of MLC earlier than the end of 50-year contract. I was one of those who were in discussion with him, being then the HSDC GM. Then DA Sec, Dr, William Dar was a major partner in the discussions.
By the way, MLC was one of the reasons why the city earned its accolade as a creative city in the Philippines.
Let’s see how the eagle will soar.**
