Proposed Camp John Hay casino to open this year

The proposed casino inside Camp John Hay is expected to be operational within the year, according to CJH Development Corp. director Rafael Perez de Tagle Jr.

De Tagle told reporters that Hong Kong-based Royal Highlands Gaming and Leisure Corp. is bent on opening the proposed casino in Baguio this year. Royal Highlands was issued a provisional business permit in December last year but the casino failed to open due to the opposition raised by the city’s religious groups.

He said Royal Highlands will be teaming up with a local firm to jointly operate the casino. He declined though to name the local company as negotiations are still ongoing.

De Tagle said CJH is hoping to attract more foreigners to boost its income. "We really want to target foreign investors in order to earn dollars. That’s really the strategy for casinos," De Tagle said.

According to De Tagle, Royal Highlands is now in discussions with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. for the necessary permits to allow it to operate the casino.

Baguio Rep. Mauricio Domogan and Vice Mayor Betty Lourdes Tabanda were out of the country when seven city councilors voted to uphold Royal Highlands’ casino venture late last year.

But in passing a supporting resolution, the councilors negated the

19 conditions it imposed on the government and the CJHDevco, when the former American baseland was privatized.

The second condition prohibited CJHDevco and the Bases Conversion Development Authority from hosting a casino inside Camp John Hay.

The council could not reverse the 19-point conditions because these were environmental contracts that had undergone public scrutiny. – Zinnia dela Peña