John Hay developer denies delaying rental payment to BCDA

MANILA, Philippines - A developer of Camp John Hay in Baguio City yesterday stood firm on its P8.5-billion offer of lease rental payment to the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), denying claims it was delaying payment of its obligations.

The Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevCo) took exception to the statement of BCDA president Arnel Paciano Casanova that the offer was a mere attempt to delay payment of its P3-billion rental dues.

CJHDevCo spokesman and lawyer Manuel Ubarra Jr. said the BCDA head’s interpretation of their offer was “erroneous” and only “proved the undeserved prejudice and discrimination of the Board of BCDA against CJHDevCo.”

“If he (Casanova) bothered to listen first to the proposal, it contained an offer of payment of P150 million upon the approval in writing of the proposal and another P350 million in the next 12 months. That’s a total of P500 million for the government and the city of Baguio if only BCDA bothered to listen first to the proposal,” he told reporters in Manila.

Ubarra said the BCDA was making a big issue out of the rental payments as an excuse to cancel its lease agreement with CJHDevCo.

“BCDA wants to remove CJHDevCo even before the expiration of the lease period and either runs by itself the businesses established by the blood and sweat of officers and employees of CJHDevCo or award it to another entity. Any way you look at it, public good is not served,” Ubarra said.

The developer’s offer was made last May when BCDA chairman Felicito Payumo expressed willingness to accept the offer and even invited the developer’s representatives to present the proposal to the BCDA board.