On misinformed judgement

Baguio has really great potential for more taxes, more jobs for the people and the economy.

The Philippine Dispute Resolution Center Inc. has earlier ordered the BCDA to return P1.42 billion in rentals paid by the developer of Camp John Hay for the rescission of its 1996 original lease agreement (OLA) for the property in Baguio City.

Also, an order from Arbitration committee asked CJHDevCo to return the 690-hectare property to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), a government agency tasked to develop the camp.

Not only with this case but BCDA's Arnel Casanova has highly-publicized disputes to private developers, like with the SM Prime Holdings. Despite the successive credit upgrades of the Philippine economy as Asia’s new growth haven they have not spooked the business community and dampened investor confidence in PPP projects and other big-ticket joint ventures with the government.

When Casanova was asked about the case he says he sees this as a victory for the government. With this, it will finally be returned and it can now be developed for the benefit of the public.

Maltreating BCDA’s private partners and its other stakeholders may be part of Casanova’s plan, Knowing his unkind behavior towards CJHDevCo and even seemingly harmless active and retired military officers in Fort Bonifacio army camp at BGC.

In the event that has been held for years, Baguio is like an innocent victim.

With the P1.42 award to CJHDevCo and the P3.3 billion “back rent” there have been so much lost.

The legacy of a vision that there is a future project within the 256 hectare property is now impossible.

In the event that Casanova claims his own victory he lost AFP–because it undermines the AFP modernisation program.

The Government has never been his property particularly its privatization program for military facilities, as BCDA’s plan to prematurely take over the CJHSEZ

Baguio City is in a pity situation because the PDRCI took away Baguio’s 25% share of all BCDA rentals as host-city of the CJHSEZ.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan reportedly says that as soon as the PDRCI order becomes final, the city will no longer collect any share of CJHSEZ rentals.

The city government used this money to bankroll local projects that cannot be funded by Baguio’s P412-million Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share from the national government.

Councilor Peter Fianza, says that the PDRCI-ordered return of CJH to the BCDA will be a severe blow to the local economy.

The original BCDA-CJHDevco lease agreement has been supported by the government in the event that the city would get either a 25% share of all rentals or 30% of net income.

It's not really a victory for BCDA's Arnel Casanova but a sad thing for Baguio and its people. The high hopes for this beautiful place remains to be a an impossible dream. All these uncertainties and losses - and all because BCDA head Casanova had arrogated unto himself.