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Mayor to oppose restructuring of John Hay lease

BAGUIO CITY (Feb. 4) — Mayor Braulio Yaranon yesterday said he will oppose the proposed third restructuring program of the lease rental of Camp John Hay to protect the welfare of the city.

“We’ve not been officially informed of the restructuring proposal but we are ready to take appropriate steps to protect the interest of the city. We will oppose the proposal as it is prejudicial to the city,” the mayor told his press briefing.

The mayor said he will also push for the cancellation of the lease contract especially if the developer will continue to fail to comply with its obligations to the Bases Conversion Development Authority and the city government.

The mayor said that should the lease be cancelled, he will pursue his proposal for the city to operate facilities inside the tourist facility.

“We had been advocating that instead of leasing out John Hay to a private firm, the city be allowed to take over the management of its facilities,” the mayor said explaining that barangays can be given a hand in managing the cottages with the income to be derived to go to their coffers as additional fund to finance barangay projects.

Yaranon said that as of last year, the developer’s unpaid rental has ballooned to as much as P2 billion, of which roughly P500 million is the city’s share. The mayor based his computation on the terms of the lease contract which mandate the developer to pay P425 million annually beginning 1997 as rental for the first five years of operation and P150 million annual for the succeeding years. Twenty five percent of this will accrue to the city government as its share.

To date, the developer has paid only P450 million for the first year of operation. Of the said amount, the city received only P90 million share in the form of community projects, according to the mayor.

The mayor earlier said he will initiate court action against BCDA and the developer if no result came out of the on-going negotiations for the collection of part of the lease rental.

The mayor said BCDA’s newly installed chairman Philadelfo Roxas promised to set aside an amount for the city if it can collect part of the lease rental from the developer. # Aileen P. Refuerzo/PIO

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Chinese lunar new year launched tomorrow

BAGUIO CITY (Feb. 6) — The local Filipino-Chinese community and the city will launch tomorrow activities in the traditional Spring Festival to usher in the Year of the Rooster in the Chinese lunar calendar.

Mayor Braulio Yaranon and Rep. Mauricio Domogan, chair and honorary chair of the festivities, are expected to preside over the roll-off program during the regular Monday flag ceremony in front of the city hall.

Although the New Year falls on Feb. 9, the organizing committee has set the grand parade highlighting the cultural fare on Saturday afternoon to allow more people to join, according to hotelier and civic leader Peter Ng, chair of the parade committee.

The parade, which features the colorful Chinese dragon dance, will start at 3:00 p.m. at the top of Session Rd., the city’s main street, and end at the Melvin Jones Grandstand for the program.

Residents and visitors will later take their vantage to witness a fireworks display at the park being prepared by committee members Jimmy Uy, Neil Marilla and Rick Yong.

New Year will be capped by an awards and cultural presentation night chaired by Dennis Sy, Lourdes Lucero and Pepito Avena. The dinner program will pay tribute to this year’s Spring Festival awardees.

William Ang, head of the committee on awards, said five residents and a civic group will be cited for their contributions to the city’s development and in fostering Filipino-Chinese friendship.

University of Baguio president Reinaldo Bautista will be honored for his work in public service, particularly in pushing the local cause for the environment as co-chair of the “Alay Sa Kalinisan”, a multi-sectoral body at the forefront of the city’s clean-up campaign.

Dr. Manuel Quirino, head of the STOP DEATH group providing rescue and emergency medical services, will also be recognized for professional and public service. Former city administrator Jose Taguba will receive the award, also for public service.

Lourdes Lucero, principal of the Baguio Patriotic School, will be honored for her contributions in the field of arts and culture while Sister Cristina Sy of the Baguio Buddha Temple will be given a plaque for her leadership in spiritual work.

The lone group honoree will be the Baguio-Benguet Public Information Civic Action Group which, for years, has been into rescue operations during accidents and calamities, aside from providing traffic assistance to motorists coming up to Baguio.

Now headed by Neil Marilla, BB-PICAG received last year a citation from the National Disaster Coordinating Center for its sustained civic work.

The festival will take on a humanitarian dimension on Feb. 9 with a gift-giving in one of the city’s barangays being coordinated by noted medical practitioner, researcher and sports advocate, Dr. Charles Cheng, head of the Baguio Fil-Chinese Hospital.

The hospital will also host a consultation service on feng shui with Uncle Lee from Feb. 8 to 11, capped by a whole day free medical consultation, also on Saturday. – Ramon Dacawi, with reports from Michelle Tenido/PIO

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Baguio Flower Festival activities on as scheduled

BAGUIO CITY (Feb. 4) — Mayor Braulio Yaranon during the “Ulat ng Bayan” media program last week assured the general public that organizers are “quietly making progress” in preparation for the 10th staging of the Baguio Flower Festival, even with the observation from on-lookers that there is less funfare for this year’s Panagbenga.

“Panagbenga will go on as scheduled,” the mayor emphasized with an optimistic air that even with the recent disease scare, local and foreign tourists will come as before, in dense crowds. This, even before the solemn opening ceremonies on Valentine’s Day at the city hall grounds with both Mayor Yaranon and Congressman Mauricio Domogan in attendance for the symbolic hoisting of the Panagbenga flag and floral mace in place

Actually, an art exhibit with the theme “Festive Art in Bloom,” runs from Feb. 1 to March 1 at the John Hay Manor, jumpstarting other Panagbenga activities this week.

Colorful lighted lanterns will be set afloat Burnham lake on the evening of Feb. 6 as their makers vie for handsome prizes. The event also runs for a month, that is, until March 6.

Another event included in the Bff is the Spring Lunar Festival of the Chinese community. With a parade down session road with the famous dragon dance, the Chinese New Year is also expected to bring in the crowd from Chinese communities, both here and nearby La Trinidad.

Daring drivers and motorcycle enthusiasts shall also have an event with a turbo motocross and speedfest race for 4x4 off-road vehicles at the stockfarm openfield, Wangal, La Trinidad on Feb. 11-12.

For the next weekend, traditional activities are in line as the Philippine Military Academy show off their parade-in-review and silent drill on Feb. 12 at the PMA field, and the “Say it with Flowers,” of the Let A Thousand Flowers Bloom painting event on Feb. 13 at Melvin Jones Grandstand. Products of the painting activity shall be the frontliners during the streetdancing parade aptly dubbed as “Flower Power” along the city’s main thoroughfares on Feb. 26.

“Market Encounter,” also opens on Feb. 13 at the city orchidarium and part of the children’s playground, both in Burnham Park. The activity runs from 8 am to 11pm daily.

Sports, culture and arts, ethnic events and technical skills, including academic and barangay-based beautification programs are expected to fill-in the calendar of activities before and after the street dancing and float parades on Feb. 26 and 27. # Julie G. Fianza/PIO

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