BAGUIO CITY – The State-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) assured concerned stakeholders of a smooth transition between the government and the private developer in the 247-hectare John Hay Special Economic Zone (JHSEZ) following the Supreme Court (SC) ruling that reinstated a 2015 decision of the city’s Regional Trial Court (RTC) affirming the arbitral decision over the disputed property.
However, BCDA president and chief executive officer Engr. Joshua Bingcang was not able to give a definite timetable on the government’s takeover of the JHSEZ pursuant to the arbitral decision of the Makati-based Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. (PDRCI), saying that the State corporation will consult all the concerned stakeholders on the ways forward to ensure the smooth transition.
“It will be a smooth turnover. We do not want something that will create fear and doubt from the public. We do not want them to be affected by these activities that we will be pursuing,” Bingcang stressed.
The BCDA official pointed out that engaging the concerned stakeholders in the said endeavor is giving due regard to their contributions through the years that triggered the significant growth of economic activities and opportunities within the economic zone.
Aside from consulting with the concerned stakeholders, he claimed that the BCDA will also review the comprehensive master plan that was prepared for the former American rest and recreation area so that the appropriate changes will be introduced to make the same sustainable and will strike the needed balance between the desired development and the state of the environment considering the pristine beauty of Camp John hay which is one of the remaining forested areas in the city.
“Everybody is welcome to approach us and forge a new partnership with the government,” he added.
Bingcang announced that one of the significant developments that transpired is that the Eastern Realty Development Corporation, the operator of the Le Monet hotel, already forged an agreement with the BCDA which is a clear indication that the current lessees recognize the government as the new operator of the economic zone.
According to him, the BCDA will make future announcements on successful agreements that will be forged between the government and the hundreds of lessees of the zone in the future considering that there are already ongoing negotiations between the government and the investors wanting to have a longer stay in the zone.
Bingcang disclosed that the parties that will be signing new agreements with the BCDA will be guaranteed fresh 25 year or more contracts depending on the status of their licenses within the zone that will likely spur economic opportunities and create more jobs for the people apart from enhancing the city’s robust development
Earlier, the SC reinstated the 2015 ruling of the RTC Branch 6 that affirmed the arbitration ruling of the PDRCI mandating the private developer, Camp John hay Development Corporation (CJHDevCo), to turnover to BCDA the economic zone free from tenants while the BCDA will reimburse to the CJHDevCo more than PhP1.41 billion in terms of lease rentals that were earlier paid to the government.
He emphasized that what is important is for the investors to recognize the role of the government in the operation, maintenance and administration of the economic zone pursuant to the SC ruling to avoid future complications in their presence in the zone.
He admitted that there are already a significant number of investors that approached BCDA and agreed to forge new partnerships with the government that will guarantee greater economic activities and more jobs for the residents aside from contributing in enhancing the state of the zone and for the government to maximize its development potentials.
The government, through the BCDA, leased the 247-hectare JHSEZ to the CJHDevCo in 1997 for the same to be converted into a world class multi-use tourism destination and an investment and promotions hub in the north.
Consequently, various issues and concerns transpired in the course of the implementation of the proposed multi-billion development that led to the filing of the civil cases until it was referred to the PDRCI for arbitration.
Bingcang expressed hope that things will go well in the course of the ongoing consultations and negotiations with the concerned stakeholders and the investors to ensure the achievement of ‘win-win’ solutions to their respective situations inside the economic zone. By Dexter A. See
