'Nat'l, city execs blind to CJH violations'
By Harley Palangchao - May 5-14-02

COUNCILOR Braulio Yaranon Monday virtually accused some city and national officials of corruption by becoming "blind, deaf and mute to violations committed" by Camp John Hay in return for the "red-carpet treatment" they receive.

"These people from Malacanang down to the city are being wined, dined and are given special favors to make them blind, deaf and mute to the series of violations by the developers" he told Sun.Star without naming names. "They are serving as protectors" of violations committed.

Yaranon claimed that the continuous tolerance by both national and local officials on violations in the Master Development Plan of CJH and other existing national and local laws governing the development of the former US military base into a mega-tourism facility proves that these officials are powerless to enforce the law.

The councilor's accusation stemmed from an earlier report that CJH Development Corporation has violated the Sanitary Code and the National Building Code by opening up the Manor Hotel for operation pending the construction of its sewer treatment plant.

It may be recalled that the Baguio Health Department and the Public Utility Services Office reported that untreated waste coming from the old septic tank spills freely into a nearby creek within the supposed protected watershed reservation. Part of the waste comes from the Manor itself, considering that the old septic tank also services the premier hotel facility.

City Engineers Office chief Engr. Leo Bernardez also admitted that the CEO did not issue yet a permanent occupancy permit for Manor Hotel, pending implementation of minor revisions in the hotel's design and technical plan. A temporary occupancy permit issued for the Manor, he added, also already expired last March.

Presidential Decree 6541 or the National Building Code provides that an occupancy permit cannot be issued unless the developers comply with the requirements of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for proper management disposal methods, like the setting up of a sewage treatment plant.

As this developed, Yaranon pointed out that he will file a resolution urging the CEO to close the Manor Hotel pending the management's compliance of PD 6541.

The councilor is also seriously contemplating moves to file a civil case to petition CJHDevCo to immediately pay the more than P500 million share of the city from the annual lease rental.

"The promised economic and financial support by the developer is now considered a failure with the non-payment of annual rentals for years 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 now amounting to more than P2 billion, thus depriving the city of its share amounting to over P500 million, aside from share in the gross income earned by the developers," Yaranon said.

He added that the developers likewise reneged on their promise to develop CJH into a world class tourist destination open to the public since, the entire scenic golf course area was now set aside for the exclusive use of members and holders of playing rights."

Recently, Yaranon has accused the developers to have "lost all legal and moral rights to hang on to their lease contract" to continue to develop the former US military reservation into a mega-tourism facility.