BAGUIO CITY – The long standing proposal of Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan for the existing conflict between the State-owned Bases and Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the Sobrepena-owned Camp John Hay Development Corporation (CJHDevCo) to strike a compromise settlement over the development of the 247-hectare John Hay Special Economic Zone (JHSEZ) saw the light at the end of the tunnel after the new BCDA leadership expressed its willingness to peacefully and orderly resolve the dispute without compromising the government’s position on the matter.
Domogan met with newly-installed BCDA president and chief executive officer Vivencio Dizon Wednesday and discussed at length the possibility of swiftly resolving the continuous row for the government to maximize its gains from the development of the former American military installation.
“We were elated over the open-mindedness and common sense displayed by the BCDA president and chief executive Dizon in assessing and evaluating the present situation in John Hay. We are confident there will be bright prospects of development in the zone once there will be a win-win solution to the problem,” Domogan stressed.
He pointed out once a compromise is reached the local government will push that the agreement to be signed will be a tripartite one, wherein to avoid the government’s quandary on how to collect its share from operations inside the economic zone, part of the conditions included will be a direct payment to the city of a 25 percent share from lease rentals.
According to him, what is important with the new BCDA leadership is receptive of the government’s position for a middle ground to help improve economic activities inside the special economic zone for the additional job generation and improved sources of livelihood for the local residents.
Domogan said he was assured by BCDA that the State corporation will be ready with its position within the next two months after the conduction of the ongoing legal audit, so all parties will be aware of what positions to take once the matter will be again brought to their attention without sacrificing the position of the government on the pending case with the Supreme Court (SC).
He disclosed BCDA president Dizon shares his position that the share of the local government will be directly remitted to the local treasury office to avoid the involvement of too much bureaucracy in the disbursement and utilization of the funds.
He expressed optimism President Rodrigo Duterte will be able to complete the appointees in BCDA and its subsidiary, the John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC), so that the government can start addressing issues to maximize the development potentials of the special economic zone, saying the BCDA is on the right track of putting things in the right perspective./By Dexter A. See#
