Three decades on, 19 city-imposed conditions for Camp John Hay still in limbo

Thirty years after the City Government of Baguio imposed the 19 conditionalities for the formulation of the Master Development Plan for Camp John Hay (formerly Club John Hay), the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) has yet to make a commitment to their implementation. With BCDA’s top officials absent from discussions in the Baguio City Council, the city government remains in the dark about the agency’s willingness to fulfill these conditions.
A dialogue on the 19 conditionalities was scheduled for February 17, 2025. However, in a letter dated February 14, BCDA officials declined the invitation, stating that their focus is on complying with a Supreme Court ruling. They promised to provide updates once implementation reaches a more stable stage.
In an earlier city council forum, BCDA’s Legal Counsel Atty. Maria Celine Erika Labrador said that BCDA is still reviewing the 19 conditionalities. She acknowledged that some have been complied with. However, due to supervening events like pending legal cases, the full implementation is still under review by BCDA and the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC).
Meanwhile, Engr. Bobby Akia, Camp John Hay’s building official, said the 19 conditionalities had not been included in the Master Development Plan for Camp John Hay, a revelation that surprised city council members who stated that the 19 conditionalities had been a prerequisite for the city council’s approval of the declaration of the Camp John Hay as a Special Economic Zone.
Atty. Mary Ellen Cabuhat, legal manager of the John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC), stated that she could not comment on the issue while the review is ongoing.
When asked for updates on the revision of Camp John Hay’s master development plan, particularly whether it will finally incorporate and fully implement the 19 conditionalities, Cabuhat said, “Only the principals, such as the BCDA board of directors, are discussing this, so it is still in the pipeline. As for JHMC, we have not yet received any instructions or updates regarding this.”
Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda underscored that in 1994, the city council had to approve the development plan for Club John Hay. She asserted that the new plan should also undergo review by the city council and that the city government has the right to be consulted on BCDA’s future development plans.
As a condition for the approval of the master development plan for Camp John Hay, the city council imposed 19 conditionalities as outlined in Resolution 362-1994. These conditions were set to ensure that transforming the former U.S. military rest and recreation facility into a special economic zone aligns with the interests of Baguio City and its residents.
Two conditions (Conditionalities 9 and 14) have emerged as the main concerns for the city government and residents. These two conditions focus on revenue sharing and the segregation of barangays from the Camp John Hay Reservation.
The city has long pushed for a fair share of revenues from Camp John Hay’s commercial operations, arguing that it should benefit from the economic activity within its jurisdiction. Meanwhile, 13 barangays within the reservation seek formal land ownership which the city supports by pushing for the complete segregation of these barangays from BCDA’s control.
A Supreme Court ruling in October 2024 granted full control of Camp John Hay to BCDA by rejecting the appeal of its former developer, Camp John Hay Development Corporation (CJHDevCo).
The Supreme Court ruling has removed all legal barriers for BCDA, bringing the 19 conditionalities back to the forefront and reviving the city government’s demand for their full implementation. In previous sessions, the city council asserted that BCDA, now the sole entity managing the area, must clarify its commitment to these conditions and how they fit into future plans.
With BCDA officials absent from dialogues and offering no firm commitment or response, the city officials remain hopeful that they will soon engage and provide much-needed updates on the issue. **Jordan G. Habbiling