BAGUIO CITY – The State-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the city government will be closely working to maximize the economic opportunities of the 247-hectare John Hay Special Economic Zone (CJHSEZ) to spur the city’s economic growth following the recent Supreme Court ruling that reinstated a 2015 ruling of the city’s Regional Trial Court Branch 6 affirming the final arbitral award on the disputed property inside the former American rest and recreation area.
BCDA president and chief executive officer Engr. Joshua Bingcang said that what the government wants is for increased economic opportunities within the economic zone that will translate to greater employment for residents and boost the city’s economy without compromising the state of the environment.
He claimed that the BCDA wants long-term and sustainable development that will strike a balance between business activities and the environment as the CJHSEZ property is one of the few remaining forested areas in the city that must be preserved and protected.
The BCDA official emphasized that there will be series of consultations to be undertaken by the government with concerned stakeholders, especially the locators and the lessees of the property that will be turned over to the government, so that the economic potential of the zone will be optimized and that people will be able to have increased opportunities for employment in the future.
According to him, the BCDA and the local government will also be working on the 19 conditionalities to ensure that the city can realize the most advantageous benefits to be derived from the compliance of these conditionalities although most of these have been realized, except for a few that are contentious.
Under Resolution No. 362, series of 1994, the local government imposed some 19 conditions that must be complied by the BCDA for the proposed development of the former Camp John Hay Air Base.
BCDA is the government arm to oversee the administration, maintenance and operation of former American military bases that were turned over after the said United States bases were given back to the government.
Bingcang disclosed that one of the proposed developments that must be implemented within the zone is the mass transport system to prevent frequent traffic congestions, especially when there is an influx of visitors at the height of the conduct of major activities being hosted by the various companies operating in the area and the local government and concerned government agencies.
Moreover, he stipulated that what is important for BCDA is to be able to work together with the concerned stakeholders so that inputs that will be derived will be used by the State corporation in effectively and efficiently managing the zone similar to what is being done by the same agency in the Clark freeport zone and in Bonifacio Global City.
Many companies have already signified their desire to negotiate with the BCDA for the renewal of their lease agreements and for their continued operation inside the zone considering the bright prospects of their businesses. By Dexter A. See
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