BAGUIO CITY – The administration and management of the Maharlika Livelihood Center will be formally turned over to the local government unit by the Human Settlements Development Corporation (HSDC) under the umbrella of the agriculture department during a ceremonial turnover ceremony at the lobby of the facility on Wednesday, May 23, 2025.
City Budget Officer Leticia O. Clemente said that the ceremonial turnover of the facility to the city will be attended by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Laurel who initially confirmed his presence during the said important occasion.
She pointed out that the local government will be officially taking over the administration and management of the facility by May 30 where status quo will be observed pending the formulation of the comprehensive master development plan for the use of the structure.
The city budget officer pointed out that the transition team is currently crafting the policies and guidelines that will be temporarily implemented in the administration and management of the facility while awaiting the completion of the aforesaid plan so that there will still be continuity in the operation of existing business located in the different parts of the building.
According to her, the local government will be taking over the operation of the parking while the books of the facility will remain separate from that of the city until such time that all the necessary systems shall have been put in place by the transition team.
Based on the data obtained by the city from the current Maharlika management, there are more than 600 businesses that are situated in the structure.
However, Clemente admitted that of the 600 businesses, there are some establishments that do not have the required business permits from the city, thus, the City Treasury Office is doing the appropriate actions to compel the said businesses to secure their permits from the city.
The 50-year lease of the Maharlika Livelihood Center expired last April 28, 2025 but the local government and HSDC signed an agreement covering the one-month extension of the same to allow the conduct of the smooth transition in the turnover of the facility to the city scheduled on Wednesday. By Dexter A. See
