BAGUIO CITY – The city government has begun taking steps to take over the Asin Hot Spring Resort in Nangalisan, Tuba, Benguet.
Assistant city general services officer Eugene Buyucan on Monday reported before department heads that they have secured the city’s multi-purpose building and conducted an inventory and assessment of all the facilities in the resort.
Buyucan said they also discussed the city’s plan to take control of the resort with long-time occupant Roger Sinot.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan last Nov. 9 ordered the city general services office under Romeo Concio to “take appropriate actions to take possession and control of the subject properties” which he said Sinot continued to operate and occupy.
“You are also to ensure that no other person shall use the same without the authority and consent of the City Government of Baguio,” the mayor directed.
City legal officer Melchor Carlos Rabanes said the court has long ordered the ejection of Sinot from the city’s property but agreed with Buyucan’s approach of handling the matter with diplomacy.
Buyucan said Sinot agreed to vacate the building but appealed for more time to relinquish the swimming pools.
Buyucan recommended that the special committee earlier created by the mayor to administer the bidding process for the city-owned resort to lay down the parameters for the smooth take-over of the entire facility.
He also made recommendations on improving the water sources preparatory to the plan to bid out its operation and turn it into an income-generating asset.
He said they inspected the water sources of the resort and found the sources feasible save for the hot water source which requires improvement by the city.
The department heads also agreed to take steps to perfect the city’s possession of the area.
The mayor formed the special committee recently to begin the bidding process for the privatization of the resort’s operation.
The mayor said that the resort which sits on a 4,344.23 square meter property of the city was leased to spouses Catbagan for 20 years or until 1996. Catbagan sub-leased it to former manager Roger Sinot sometime in 1993.
“In June 3, 2002, Mr. Sinot entered into a Contract of Lease with the City Government for the period of 15 years with a monthly rental of P3,000. The Contract of Lease was not confirmed by the Sangguaniang Panlungsod,” the mayor noted.
“Supreme Court Decision No. G.R. 204667 dated June 10, 2013 affirming the Court of Appeals (CA) Decision and Resolution in CA-G.R. SP 121692 ordering Mr. Roger Sinot to immediately vacate the Asin Hot Spring Resort and pay P5,000 monthly rental for the use and occupation thereof from December 1996 until he shall have finally vacated the same;”
“To date, Mr. Sinot is still operating the said resort despite several demands for him to vacate the subject area without mentioning the supposedly rental fees to be remitted or paid to the City of Baguio,” the mayor noted./Aileen P. Refuerzo#
