BAGUIO CITY – The issue on the development of Camp John Hay (CJH) shared the spotlight in the newly launched book authored by a prestigious law professor and an environmentalist.
The book entitled ‘Ransomed by Love’ authored by well-known environmentalist and human rights lawyer Antonio ‘Tony’ La Viña was launched in the city last Sunday.
The book launching coincided with the brewing issues that cropped up after the State-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) took over the 247-hectare John Hay Economic Zone (JHSeZ) from its former developer, Camp John Hay Development Corporation (CJH DevCo).
La Viña was the former Undersecretary for Legal Services of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) at the time when the privatization of former American military basis that included Camp John hay (CJH) was being processed during the Ramos Administration. Part of the excerpts of the book stated, “We were not as successful in the environmental assessment of the Camp John Hay EIA process. In that big project, the re-development of Camp John hay, an iconic place for the people of Baguio, was being proposed by the Camp John hay Development Corporation so it would become an attractive tourist resort area. Hotels and other projects were being proposed. While the Ramos administration supported this proposal, there was significant opposition to the project because of environmental concerns, among others, from solid waste issues to the cutting of trees and from traffic to the impact of the project on the water resources of Baguio. Secretary Ramos assigned me to handle the public hearing on the project. I assembled a team from my office and went up to Baguio. Working with our regional and local colleagues, the public hearing went well. We got good feedback on how we conducted the process, transparent, inclusive, exhaustive, and thorough. When we returned to Manila, I briefed Secretary Ramos on our findings and recommendations. In essence, we suggested that the environmental clearance certificate (ECC) of the project not be released until the issues identified, especially the waste and water issues, were addressed properly by the proponent. Secretary Ramos agreed with us but said that these issues could be included as conditions for the project that will be included in the ECC. And so the ECC was issued even with the unresolved issues. I had to go up to Baguio again to explain to the stakeholders this decision. They were disappointed but knew we tried our best.”
La Viña is at present Associate Director for climate policy and international relations and concurrently Head, Klima Center of Manila Observatory and a professor of law, philosophy, politics and governance in several universities in the Philippines. He is also a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, the Chair of the Jurisprudence and Legal Philosophy Department of the Philippine Judicial Academy. the founding President of the Movement Against Disinformation, and the founding Chair of the Mindanao Climate Justice Resource Facility. He is also Managing Partner of La Viña Zarate, a human rights, climate justice, and general litigation law firm.
Dean Tony is the former Dean of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Government, co-founder of Ashoka Philippines and the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center, and a former environmental undersecretary. By Dexter A. See