Mayor, Council Okay 25-year Lease of Athletic Bowl to Koreans
January 6, 2010 by lisa
Filed under business & economy, government & politics, people & events
Athletic bowl photo published with the permission of Ric Maniquis. I cropped it to show you the area (in the center) that is the subject of the controversy
As I was conducting a Values & Visioning Workshop yesterday for some candidates for the local elections to be held in May 2010, our discussion was interrupted by the arrival of one of the candidates bearing a thick set of documents that contained a copy of Resolution 515 dated December 21, 2009 approving a Memorandum of Agreement, dated December 11, 2009, entered into by Mayor Reinaldo “Peter Rey” Bautista and a Korean company for a 25-lease of seven hectares of Burnham Park, specifically the Athletic Bowl area for commercial development, among which will include a hotel and other establishments.
The documents, which contained drawings of the buildings to be built in the area, also indicated that the area will be leased out for 25 years at P100,000 a month for 25 years with a 10 percent increase after five (5) years.
All the incumbent councilors signed Resolution 515, except two who were absent “with prior notice.”
Baguio Lovers on Facebook Start the Protest
A page was immediately set up by journalist Pigeon Lobien on Facebook entitled “save the baguio athletic bowl from the koreans” and I joined that, while requesting that the title of the page be changed to refer to the local parties involved in this midnight deal that was done without the consultation of the people.
Leandro Yangot (LP), who is a candidate for Representative of Baguio to Congress, and running against Bautista (who is not seeking reelection as mayor after his first and scandal-ridden 3-year term, but is opting to run for Congress instead), said:
“The cart was placed before the horse. The controversial MOA was already signed December 11 and the city council confirmed it December 21.
The proper procedure should have been:
1.) The mayor after receiving the Korean proposal should have referred the matter to the city council for referral to the appropriate committee and not for him to immediately sign the deal. In this case, he signed the MOA then the matter was referred to the city council for confirmation
2.) After having received the MOA ,the committee in charge should have called for a public hearing so that the people of Baguio would be properly apprised of the proposal; if the people would give the green light then the city council can indorse (sic) the project. But in this case, it was done in a hurry like the infamous “casino resolution”.
This one was cooked in a record of ten(10) days.”
Beyond the Commerce of Man
As far as I am concerned, no such proposal should be considered by any member of the government or any citizen of the city. Parks are beyond the commerce of man. To think that any inch of it be compromised would be to strip the future generations of a chance to enjoy the great outdoors, which is the one thing that the city can claim to but which the residents do not seem to be able to fight for.
It is not even a matter of who should own athletic bowl. It does not matter if a Korean or a Filipino or any other nationality is to lease it. Burnham Park is one place that is not for rent or for sale. Anyone who thinks otherwise does not deserve to live in Baguio City, much less lead it. For his heart would be in the wrong place and Baguio does not need people who don’t have their hearts in the right place or who do not think of anyone other than themselves.
Much less is it a matter of how much monthly rent the Korean company will pay; that included in this deal would be the swimming pool the city spent several millions to build; that they will construct improvements on the land; that there will be no cash outlay by the city. What matters is that the leaders of the city have decided that they have the power to alienate public land that has been a park for 100 years. So much for Bautista’s claim to be the Centennial Mayor, if all he has been doing during his term is to enter into deals that serve to ruin the city and the spirit of the people. Shame on you Peter Rey Bautista.
Question: Didn’t the City spend over 100 million to build the swimming pool when either Domogan or Vergara was the mayor? So to lease it out for that amount would allow us an ROI on the swimming pool of about 100 years?
Question: Wasn’t a huge chunk of the 400M Burnham Park development budget alloted for the Athletic Bowl? So the city has money for it, why are these people behaving as if Baguio is poor and we need the Koreans or that we need outside help?
Shame also on all those who approved his Memorandum of Agreement. Not only do they not deserve to be called leaders of the city, they should be strung by the balls and flogged for either being stupid and unfit for office or for being parties to this midnight deal, whether they received personal bribes for their acquiescence or not.
Oh but I am so not done, in the next pages you will find photos of the MOA, the signatories of Resolution 515, and the “proposed development” by the Koreans.
We just...
This is such depressing news. Would it be alright for me to post a link of this on my blog?
Please do!!!
Kubi, our future depends on an active citizenry that will provide a check and balance to an evil government, local and national. And information is key to waking up the people!
ggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrabbbbbbbbeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! @#%$# i am pulling my hair as i type this comment. he does not deserve to be a mayor!!! wow what the power of money can do. wake up mayor you are destroying Baguio city literally.
Thanks Lisa! I’ve also joined the Facebook group. This administration has given us one disappointment after another.
Lisa, saan iyong next pages? Osiang na(mild lang iyan), they’re treating Burnham Park as if it were their own personal property. Haven’t we learned from the KamJanHi debacle?
@Andrew, Bautista does not deserve to even be elected to Congress in may 2010.
@Kubi, not just this admin, remember Jadewell, SM Baguio moratorium, flyover, uniwide, not just this mayor. Let’s choose new people, those who have good hearts and clean souls.
@Resty, page 3 coming up!!! I have a hard copy so I have to edit photos and type out everything. But I figured I had to publish the first 2 pages na because there’s an Ugnayan tomorrow at City Hall — see you there and pray that the mayor has the balls to show up.
We will! But I am really liking the idea of stringing them up by their balls and flogging them.
Third page in your last paragraph, the first word should be “next” right? I’m just checking and I agree that not even the whole or a part of Burnham Park should not be sold or rented ever.
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Fireworks at city hall tomorrow, Arwin. Many are planning to attend Ugnayan at 10am. Let’s see if Peds shows up. Even if it’s “far” from you, let’s go!!!
And I was just looking at Baguio on Google Maps a few hours ago, thinking how beautifully planned Burnham Park was. (You’re right with the Prison Break look)
Go, sugod! I hope there are many of you at the City Hall tomorrow.
NO! NO! NO! to EXCLUSIVE KOREATOWN! NO! NO! NO! to EXCLUSIVE KOREATOWN! Let them blend with Baguio’s Population!
Hi Chat!
At the facebook protest page, someone commented that the UC masterplan (UC is upset because the mayor did not wait for their plan before they undertook this) might be superfluous because there can be no better plan than Daniel Burnham’s. And I so agree with that.
Hi Joe!
No to giving up a single square inch of our premier park! Ginny de Guia has always advocated we defend every inch of space of Burnham Park. No space in the park must ever be privatized, whether given to a Filipino or to a foreign national.
I hope, wish and hope again that Burnham Park will never be privatized.
During my high school years in public school this is the place where we compete, practice, train and have fun since we don’t have big enough gyms for our activities. Where were all those students go for meets if it’s going to be privately owned by Konks?
Just an example… lots of people are outraged in Angeles City because some Konks that owned restaurants and pubs do not allow Filipinoes to enter them. Banned in our own country? Give me a break!
I don’t reside there anymore but still a strong supporter of Public Athletic Bowl!
Hi Raquel,
Legal teams are working on it, folks are planning to accost the mayor during the Ugnayan later. This is not the first sell-out of Baguio and I believe the people are very angry, You are right to be concerned, because it is an issue that is not just local — we’re talking here about Philippine soil and it is everyone’s concern.
Please call your friends and relatives here and ask them to fight for what is right. Thanks
hindi po ako taga baguio but nagpupunta kami dyan nawala na ang ganda sa sobra trafic lalo na ng itinayo ang SM.nanga ubos na ang pinetree tapos ang burham park na lang ang tangin pasyalan mawawala pa!!! IBA TALAGA ANG NAGAGAWA NG $$$$PERA….SAYANG DITO PA NAMAN NAGMULA ANG AMING ANGKAN BAGUIO!!!!!!!!!!
I CAN’T IMAGINE THE KIND OF PRECEDENT BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE JADEWELL-UNIWIDE-CAR PLAN-BASURA TO OUR PRESENT LEADERS. NOW THEY BECAME EVEN MORE BOLD AND SHAMELESS. ONLY 15 DAYS IN THE MAKING. THE FASTEST RESOLUTION ALIVE. WHERE ELSE CAN WE ENROLL IN BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PRIVATIZATION AND RAILROADING?
LET US NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS OWE US THE KIND OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE DESERVE, GOVERNMENT THAT IS TRANSPARENT! CONSULTATIVE! ACCOUNTABLE! CREDIBLE! DEDICATED! AND RESPONSIBLE! WE WILL TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THIS JADEWELL-UNIWIDE REPLICA. WE WILL BRING THE PARLIAMENT TO THE STREETS TO EXPOSE THIS SHAMELESS MORONIZATION OF OUR GOVERNANCE. WE WILL NEVER GIVE THEM THE CHANCE TO PROSTITUTE OUR HERITAGE. ENOUGH OF CORRUPTION! ENOUGH OF CAR-PLAN LEADERS! ENOUGH OF GARBAGE LEADERS! AND ENOUGH OF KOREAN-BOWL LEADERS!
hi sis lisa,
My heart bleeds as i was reading this post…I hope and pray that this will not happen.We should not surrender our ancestral lands to any foreigners just because of money( 100,000 a month to koreans is very cheap, that is just a 2mos salary of a factory worker here).Let us join hands to oppose this action and save our dear baguio.Let us not allow KOREANS to use their money to grab our lands from us..
Kulang nalang mapamura ako dito sa office ng malakas habang tinatype ko ang blog na ginawa ko after ko mabasa itong news na ito. The governement is literally destroying Baguio’s future!
Read out more here! http://www.usizero.com
http://www.usizero.com/2010/01/baguio-athletic-bowl-to-be-leased-by.html
Is our Mayor here in Baguio is thinking that Athletic Bowl is
for Baguio and it is not for sale or for lease.The decision is not good
for all because this is the best place where we usually held the important
events here in Baguio City not to mention………
events that include special gatherings of all the head of officials and
it’s members and not to mention the special celebration of Panagbenga.They should think of the freedom of all the people here in Baguio City to use the place not just the money that they can benefit!!!Decision that was made was
only for few people who can benefit from it not for the sake of ALL!
There shouldn’t be another jadewell incident that once the Mayor who
ruled the town was tempted with money not thinking that it will
eventually affect the whole people in Baguio.
This incident kept on repeating it’s history! Aren’t the officials of Baguio City learned that any decision such as Jadewell and Casino or anything that might affect all the people in Baguio should be known by all the people here in Baguio” First” then coordinate…ate with all the councils to have a keen study before they make the final decision together with the Mayor of the town to prevent the problem at hand in the furure!!!Not just the officials from the government owns Baguio . It is the for the whole people from here!!!25 years is too long! unfair for all the upcoming new officials who will reign and decide for Baguio City!!!
HUMANDA KA PEDRO BAUTISTA! Ipapamukha namin sayo sa susunod na election kung gano mo binababoy ang BAGUIO! tignan natin kung may magagawa ka pa! Balang araw, makakarma ka rin! Tignan nalang natin kung may mukha ka n=pang ihaharap sa aming mga taga Baguio!
TIME WILL COME! YOUR DAYS ARE COUNTED!
ang kapal naman ni bautista. akala nya sino sya profiteering from baguio and his position. eh wala man lang syang nagawang significantly beneficial for the people of baguio, instead he is so ready to do something detrimental. wala man lang syang maipagmamalaki during his term.
i have known mayor bautista since grade school and am batchmates with his sister, i have known their family my whole life and have always held them in high regard, well educated decent folk. i am disappointed… this plan that was hatched is downright sinister. i had so much high hopes when he became mayor, i even helped in his campaign. it pains me and makes me angry to think that i contributed to his being mayor, i had so much hope that he would undo what the other mayors have done to baguio. i had hoped that he would make baguio a better place for us to live in….. i am disappointed. and i am angry… shame on him. i am proud of the baguio people for not allowing him to do this.
Burnham Park and the Athletic Bowl is the only clean area Baguio has at this point of time. These places have a legacy and history of Baguio Pioneers, Parents, Natives and all who embraced Baguio a their home. Why ruin this idea of awarding it to Koreans. Is it a time for these aliens to alienate our city and people? It’s all vested interest for Koreans because they are building their culture and soon they will own BAGUIO our beloved city. Let’s fight fellow Baguio people to save our city. Koreans want to propagate or extend their culture here, as evidence a lots of them loitering in the city, some are illiegals. It has come to pass and failed once they want to develop Olongapo and cut all the trees for their commercial development per se but foiled by our very own Mr. Palafox not to continue ther venture and now they eyed Baguio. I am calling all LOUISIANS and DEVOTED Baguio born natives and long time residents to protest this agreement. We love our city more than anywhere else.
This is our sacred home and we die for her. LONG LIVE BAGUIO CITY.
LEO
Amids all the rage, let us pause and draw strength to be more vigilant – the price of democracy. Lord open our eyes to see the light, to confront the root of the problem and do away with our personal prejudice. Keep us clear in our intention and pure in motivation. Above all, help us realize that you came not to make us love you but to realize that despite our frailties, we are worth loving (1John 4:19), AMEN
Who knows the hotel might be converted into a campus of K__ns…run by ____? I see a dialectic here.
baguio will no more city of Pines….it would be city of Koreans!!!
It hurts to know that people who consider themselves Baguio-ites are the culprits selling Baguio’s soul to the Koreans. We are drastically becoming the minority in our own abode. I pray that we will not be acculturized by these aliens because we are unique, we have a “class” of our own. Folks, election is just around the corner. Remember these traitors, banish them from serving the city ever again. Exercise your right to vote! Do it wisely, will you?
May utak ba ang mga taong yan? ^$&#@^#^$%&#(($ nilang lahat… Saan na napunta yung budget para sa Bowl? Wala na ngang ginawang tama yang mayor na yan, dadagdagan pa niya ang kapalpakan niya… Kapal talaga ng mukha…
Hi Liza, read below the document you have and check the footer. The footer was UPROOTED/COPY PASTED from a document with titles>>>>>DOMINICAN HILL. The material used in this MOA is the same as that of the supposed to be HOTEL at the Dominican Hill. The proponent(1st endorser) of the acquisition of the Dominican Hill Area is the same as that of the athletic bowl area. It was endorsed by his committee, disapproved by the people of Baguio and so it will be rehabilitated by the Chamber of Mines I suppose. Fast tracking commits a lot of mistakes, mangongopya na nga, traces of grave errors are there. Tapos pinapirma pa ng signed by the authority of the mayor by a certain Gloria? MAGKANO?????? Eh akala mo lusot, every page of the MOA may signature ng mayor. Tama si Alan, saan ba ang baccalaureate degree na yun? Baka sa University of B. Tama doon nga. Burning with fire…no emoticons for this feeling…
i love Baguio!
Mayor????????Bautista go to hell along with the Koreans!!!!
monkey eating money!!!
CODY!!! YOU’RE RIGHT!!! IT’S THE DOMINICAN HILL MOA!!!
Missed that, looking at the photos na hilo na ako when I published theme here and FB and sent to Abs-cbn & GMA News, but with the hard copies it’s right there!!!
EVERYONE!!! Vigilance! We know the parties to this travesty, their names are all there, including the reelectionist politicians who are holding office now. Let’s get these people out by May 2010, it’s just 4 months till then … keep the fire burning in our hearts…
Let’s choose well this coming elections and keep vigilant all our lives. Baguio is our home.
I left Baguio in 1970. I have fond memories of Burnham Park and the athletic bowl while attending the BCHS.
It is one more sad reminder of how we sell off our heritage. It shows lack of foresight, will, and belief in the ability of the citizen’s of Baguio to make a difference on their own; and sadly, smacks more of graft and corruption that ails politicians.
100,000Pesos translates to about 2,000 Dollars. For this price, it is a shame. They could at least lease it for some decent amount!
After, reading the article once again, I am even more appalled.
100,000 Pesos should be the rent for a KIOSK not a whole park! Outrageous!
I am a baguioite, born and bred in Baguio, spent the best years of my youth in that mountain city. I am aghast at this travesty! How dare these Baguio politicians subject to the commerce of man what belongs to the people? They deserve the angriest condemnation ever crafted! Can anyone in Baguio please initiate court proceedings?
These criminals even dare run for public office? My goodness, they deserve to run for their lives!
I would really love to hear from the dishonorable mayor what his brain-dead thinking was when he approved of this stupidity. This egomaniac went above and beyond the likes of the ampatuans, he practically massacred not only 57 but all of the wonderful people of Baguio. Why wait for the elections, people power his monkey ass out of the people’s office NOW! That will definitely give notice to the incoming mayors in the future – DO NOT MESS WITH THE PEOPLE OF BAGUIO BECAUSE OUR IGOROT COLORS DON’T RUN, INSTEAD WE WILL RUN YOU OUT OF OFFICE! Speak up dishonorable mayor, have the decency of facing the people of baguio, look them in the eye and tell them what and why!
This is too much of a PLUNDER to our City. Mabekkel ko pay no makadinnak toy Mayor uray no kaubingak ni Tatang na Rey ken kaklase ti uncle na Des. The more responsible Bautista’s gave name to Baguio and this Mayor Pedro is Unmaking Baguio and the Bautista’s. What a SHAME!
The politicians of Baguio are “pimping” the City. And adding insult to injury is the price. Hey, guys, are you having a sale? For 100K pesos/month, looks like you are so desperate. What happened to the Baguio pride?
100,000? mas mahal pa mag rent ng space/shop sa SM. mas mahal pa gawin yung swimming pool kaysa pa rent yung buong athletic bowl.
Tama ka Nico, isa din ako sa mga dismayadong kakilala niya.
Renato, you are absolutely correct – it is outrageous! 100,000 Peso would barely cover the monthly rent of a Makati Condo unit.
You can bet the Koreans will be raking-in a lot more than 100k a month with very little of it beneifiting the Baguio City economy.
I so hope the good people of Baguio City can take a tough stance on this…..
To Liza and everyone,
During the Ugnayan, the mayoh said it is not a done deal yet…Whaat!!! He is both stupid and has not learned enough of governance. Did he and the other officials lost the basic learnings in governance? Talaga it is not a done deal yet for the citizens of Baguio!!! It will not stop us from filing the necessary cases. Eh sasabihin uli… di file kayo ng kaso. In due time maghintay ka!!! Mayoh and councihilo, one of the basic process is for you to have consultation, have it known to the public and if approved through the RIGHT-MORALLY CORRECT PROCESS, then have it BIDDED OUT TRANSPARENTLY. There is nothing wrong with that. We are for the rehabilitation of Athletic Bowl minus the corruption. I think everyone of us agree that the the athletic bowl needs rehabilitation.
On the other hand, the drawings were paid a mere 19,000.00? Come on, ano yan cut and paste? Looking at the drawings, they were not even scaled???? Sabagay, what do you expect if you are paid 19k? So, you can build a cat house dormitory hotel, bleachers that will conked out during the inauguration (hehehe, naka-smile pa sila) lightings made out of sulo, where the hell will be the baseball field, the track and field, the football/soccer field?. Ano ang papanoorin namin at naglagay na kayo ng bleachers. Mag promenade sa shop under the bleachers? PATHETIC!!!! Oh I am sorry, I forgot the photographer (daw) is an an idiot. Check again, suppose if there are non-payments of lease? It does not say again on the MOA, no interest charges indicated nor right of the city to get it back. It does not say anything again if the MOA will not be honored by the city because the people does not want it. Kawawa na naman susunod na opisyal pag na-habla sila.
On the other hand, these same people are very boisterous saying they will have over a billion budget??? Saan gagastusin? I know na, sisterhood sa Korea. kimchi-jung country, fast track MOA’s. Pwede ba, side walk na nga hindi pa ninyo ma-perfect, nakakahiya kayo. People of Baguio, be careful, the Santo Tomas might be sold out…again to the Koreans.
Leasing Athletic Bowl is sacrificing the sports welfare not only of Baguio City but of Northern Luzon. Remember the Regional championships? The way the mayor maneuvered the deal this is a shame not only to him but to the reverred Bautista clan. Coming from an educators’ clan, the mayor is sacrificing the education of the youth in terms of health, sportsmanship with friendship, learning how to cope with defeat and learning interrealtionships and many other derivatives of sport. For the mayor to act so imperiously without the proper channels of the law talks about how small he sees the people of Baguio. So, I did not capitalize my word mayor to show my disrespect. With this kind of deal, a bribe cannot but be suspected to have transpired.
I was born, raised, attended schools in Baguio until I left 25 years ago, but my heart remains Baguio as my homeland. This is very disgusting! I am very downright angry after reading the article. What kind of administration do we have now in the City of Baguio? We have allowed these Koreans to live in Baguio, even own business establishments, and now the Mayor made an agreement to lease the Athletic Bowl? Are we allowing these (Koreans) to run over our city? With all due respect, mayor Bautista…don’t you even think of preserving Burnham Park (Athletic Bow)? Fix the garbage problem and the overcrowding street vendors on the sidewalks and overpasses.
Money cannot buy the good spirit of the people of Baguio residents.
WOW, I CANNOT KEEP UP WITH ALL YOUR COMMENTS!!!
This is one record post with comments pouring in, so many outraged over the recent developments in city hall. Now you have an inkling of how things work in City Hall — our leaders have no plans really, they wait for someone to come up with a proposal (the plan does not come from the mayor, vice-mayor or councilors) and some magic happens, it gets approved without opposition as to the fundamental flaws of privatizing Burnham Park or developing it for the benefit of the Filipinos.
There are other anomalies that this blog has been tackling through the years — Baguio Convention Center, Uniwide Deal on Public Market,400M Loan for Satellite Markets, Garbage Hauling Issues, 400M for Burnham Park “Development,” the BGH Flyover — and I am hoping everyone will try to learn more about these others too so we can provide the check and balance to a corrupt and incompetent local government.
The Baguio City we love deserves so much better than all this rot!
Do you recall that tramline the mayor proposed around downtown? Well as the mayor said it during Ugnayan, it was rejected by NEDA.
Will the dishonorable mayor get a chance to read or hear all of these disgusted comments. I am sure there are other blogs going around other than this and he must know, at all costs, that even ex-Baguio residents outside the country are so disappointed with him. Please do not vote him for the congressional seat representing Baguio, he does represent a very, very, very small portion of Baguio—that is, University of Baguio!…or maybe not anymore.
Hiya Resty,
Buti nga the tramline did not get approved according to the Mayor’s desired plan, kasi what’s the point of it just servicing SM City Baguio and the Convention Center property that will just be Henry Sy’s anyway because the city is not putting up a good fight for it.
Hi Bugsy,
Not to crow or anything like that — but I have it on good authority that the mayor gets a printed copy of each post on his desk every time an article is published here. He knows “what’s out there,” as he said the Facebook protest was just “internet chismis.” This blog was first to publish the evidence to refute that and I agreed to immediate reposting by all Baguio bloggers, too.
His shenaningans have finally caught the eyes and ears of the people, he should have known better than to touch Burnham Park. I am hoping they would also try to learn about the other issues so they can see the track record of bad governance.
P.I. talaga! And to think that this guy wants to run for congress! Ano na lang mangayari sa ating syudad! Please, should he file his candidacy for any position in government office, DON NOT vote for him. He could not even come close to our barangay tanods when it comes to performance. He is better of managing their school than managing the city or any government office at that.
WAS THERE ANY OFFER (CONSULTATION) MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ANY LOCAL DEVELOPER FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE BAGUIO ATHLETIC BOWL? IS THE MAYOR DEALING WITH A LEGITIMATE DEVELOPER (GROUP OF INVESTORS) OR A MERE DUMMY? DID UNIV OF CORDILLERAS FINISH THE MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN INVOLVING THE ATHLETIC BOWL? IS THE MOA VIOLATIVE OF ANY LAW? I BELIEVE THESE ISSUES CANNOT BE COMPROMISED IN THE GUISE OF URGENCY. I AM FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE ATHLETIC BOWL BUT THERE ARE MORE PRESSING ISSUES LIKE GARBAGE AND BARANGAY CONCERNS THAT CALL FOR RESOLVED ACTION. LET US DO AWAY WITH THE THOUGHT THAT THE ALLEGED “GROUP OF INVESTORS” ARE THE ONLY MESSIAH. IF ONLY A SINCERE OFFER IS MADE TO THE PUBLIC, GOOD SAMARITANS WILL SURELY COME OUT FOR HELP. THEY BRAG OF “SISTER CITIES” IN FOREIGN SOIL, WHY NOT ASK HELP FROM THEM? OTHERWISE, LET OUR GOVERNMENT DO THE DEVELOPMENT GRADUALLY…AT LEAST.
What’s happening to Baguio? How come I didn’t hear any opposition from the incumbents? Are their pockets ringing with moolah?
Eventually, foreigners will lord it over in controlling everything in Baguio. My, if ever I step back on Baguio again, I might be petrified that its not my hometown anymore.
I suggest that these politicos come to Greenwich, Connecticut to get a different perspective of how parks should be…Greenwich, Connecticut reminds me of the Baguio I know, small town (but not small people—bigwigs live here:celebrities, investment bankers, Unilever used to have their headquarters in Greenwich, CT). Stroll to Greenwich Ave. which reminds me of Session Road…Bruce Park which reminds me of the Burnham Park that I know: lots of trees, a lake in the middle of the park…Maybe politicos should just stop travelling to Disneyland and all those amusement parks to get a different perspective of how parks should be.Get real sirs and madames, stop acting and thinking like a” mickey mouse.”
Rommel: Bautista is running for Congress this time, the rest are running for reelection or have relatives in the running, or running for higher positions.
Alan: I so agree with gradual development.
Boyski: It’s the incumbents who penned and approved the deal.
Jennifer: What you’re saying is that we need real urban planners. I am not averse to getting “outside” help as far as planning is concerned but not development. Or that it be planned by people with vested interests as this is not planning at all.
Lisa, this is bad news.
Lisa, why not run for a local position? And try to fix things? I know it’s not easy, but with the right mindset, you can surely fix things back or at least help straighten up a few things.
Some will agree and some will not, I know. My main point is, people in baguio should make a stand or loose everything. Regardless of who sits on that position.
Remember that the Mayor executes the laws passed by the Councilors. Obviously may connivance na nangyayari dito, wala na yung tinatawag na “Checks and Balances” Tama si Renato, 100,000 Pesos, rent yan along Session Road for I would say mga 200 sq/m na store. What did the Koreans do to convince some councilors to agree to pass this ordinance? Common sense will tell you that luging lugi ang city dito. If the Councilors are there to protect the City’s interest, dinedisregard na kaagad yang idea na yan. Parang Jadewell nanaman ito. Ang problema yung mga councilors na nag approve ng Jadewell nakaupo nanaman, ano ba yan!!! We Filipinos are brilliant, innovative, resourceful etc. we can develop the city on our own.
It’s too sad to hear greater number of Bad News that good ones. I left Baguio 4 years ago and I ‘m sorry to say this but the City get even worse that ever. It seems that the issues are also syncing with the current economic and social depreciation. To make things more specific, let me set some of the basics why it’s not ok to have the area leased to these people:
1. The lease for a 7 hectare land in a Prime Commercial Area is too cheap for 100k a month lease. A prime lot can be leased for at least 1,000 – 5,000 Pesos a month per square meter. If calculated the numbers should be in between roughly 70,000,000 – 90,000,000 a month. Which is too far from 100k a month.
2. Legalities are also considered since the passing of the proposal is (technically) illegal. The issues with the development can also have issues like the proposed development by the korean company might not be in accordance with the zoning in the area, the taxes incuded in the lease and future developments and so on.
3. The land is a public park and it is an Amenity that is supposed to be used by the public and should not be a source of profit of foreign investors. If it was a privately owned land I might understand it but it’s not.
4. The general public is not agreeing to the proposal. The government should listen to the people (public) first before any developments on public owned land be considered.
5. Past projects that for public land leasing all turned into failure. Financial Statements of the projects were never audited and showed to the public. Meaning there is a conspiracy with the public officials, treasurers office and BIR when it comes to financials.
In conclusion, this should not be a good deal for the city to consider.
its obvious why they sign it fast and the rent is only 100thousand.
they have been paid by the koreans by a huge amount.
There are two issues here intertwined by the ban on foreigners’ lease of national parks and the ban on Baguio City’s leasing on its own a part of a national park to anybody.
1. Foreign corporations may lease alienable public agricultural land for a total of 50 years. If the Athletic Bowl is such land, the lease would be legal. However, they may not lease national parks. If the Athletic Bowl is part of national park, then the lease would be illegal. Burnham Park Reservation (BPR) was “reserved for park purposes” by Proclamation No. 64 on August 6, 1925. Presidential Decree No. 1762 dated January 6, 1981 delineated the boundaries of the Burnham Park Reservation. Is the Bowl a part of Burnham Park? The dialogue should now turn on this issue. The answer is yes. PD 1762 by metes and bounds describes the boundaries of the BPR which include 328,394.39 square meters. Presidential Proclamation No. 401 dated June 27, 1953 by Pres. Ramon Magsaysay awarded then Baguio City High School (now BCNHS) 11,840 square meters, which parcel of land was SEGREGATED from the Burnham Park Reservation. The history of BCNHS and the Baguio Midland Courier record such historical fact. Geographically, the Athletic Bowl is between the present site of BCNHS and the Burnham Park lake. Global Balita reported that the Athletic Bowl extends its area to a few more hectares of BPR. Ergo, preponderant evidence is that the Athletic Bowl is a portion of the BPR. By simple syllogism, since no foreigner or foreign corporation may lease a national park or a portion thereof, the Koreans may not lease the Athletic Bowl.
2. May the City Government of Baguio solely alienate, mortgage or encumber the BPR?
PD 1762 ceded, conveyed and transferred BPR to the Philippine Tourism Authority with the express prohibition that PTA may not alienate, mortgage or otherwise encumber the BPR (necessarily, the Athletic Bowl). Executive Order (E0)No. 224 (Pres. F. Ramos) dated 02/10/1995 reiterated that the BPR was RESERVED FOR PARK PURPOSES and transferred to the City Government of Baguio the administration, management, maintenance and administration of the BPR with the same prohibition that the City cannot encumber, mortgage or alienate any portionof the PARK. The EO limited the use of the Park “only to recreation and tourism-related activities.” On January 10, 2008, GMA issued EO 695 giving the City Government of Baguio full control of the administration, operation, management, maintenance and further development of BURNHAM PARK (except the area for DOT-PTA regional office) partly on the City Government’s assurance that it had the capability and capacity to do so. Sec. 4 expressly provides that the City Government shall NOT encumber, mortgage or alienate any portion of the Park UNLESS APPROVED by the Secretary of Tourism. It means the City Government cannot have the Mayor as its Lone Ranger and the City Council as its Tonto and go it ALONE in leasing the Athletic Bowl to ANYBODY (much less, to foreigners or foreign corporations without violating the ban against their encumbrance on national parks). The Tourism Secretary’s prior imprimatur means that EO 695 never CEDED, CONVEYED or TRANSFERRED Burnham Park to the City of Baguio, because first, the EO did not so provide and it takes another law, not an Executive Order, to transfer ownership still vested by law (Pres. Decree No. 1762)in the Philippine Tourism Authority to the City. There you are – the Mayor/City Council are locked between the two horns of a legal dilemma.
3. Nor is that all. It appears that GMA exceeded legal limits with her EO 695. Even if the Tourism Secretary approves the lease of any portion of BPR, including the Athletic Bowl, that – and EO 695 in the process – is subject to a judicial thumbs-down on the settled doctrine that a national park or any portion thereof may not be leased to anyone because as one distinguished jurist maintained, parks are beyond the commerce of man). Indeed, E0 695 defied the proscription reiterated or reechoed by PD 1762 and Pres. Ramos’ E0 244 against the alienation and mortgage of or any encumbrance on the BPR.
Grateful for the comments… very valid.
But comments are not enough. We need a more drastic action. People should go to the streets… confront the mayor…
It is bad enough that we have Korean schools, restaurants, hotels and churches and now our park!!!
I am not zenophobic…. this is plain power abuse!!!
alice
This just show how stupid we are… We can’t even maintain burnham park. That’s how foreigners sees us that’s why they asked to develop Burnham Park. Why not sell or lease the whole Philippines so that we Filipinos would stop going abroad and start making a difference in our country
Hi Liza and Jennifer,
My goodness! That resolution, nag-uunahan sila sa council ng pag-rescind dismissing the motion of Councilor Rondez to investigate why was it fast tracked. NOw, they(the same people who signed and confirmed) DO NOT WANT AN INVESTIGATION?&(%^$#)#$8*)^.IT IS NOT ENOUGH THAT THE MAYOR SAYS THE INVESTORS FLEW AWAY BECAUSE WE SCARED THEM AWAY…Rule No.1 in governance: you accepted that responsibility, be prepared and accountable for it. Jennifer, these honorables (should I say horror-rables…que horror)do not know anything about urban planning, neither do they appreciate nature, plans, boulevards, pathwalks and walkways. They are so consumed at kimchi-jung country, they will not appreciate Greenwich, Connecticut. They have no legitimate desire to learn the small ways and mehtods of a small community BUT with big promise. My goodness, again! These people have no respect for senior citizens like me, that they can give these kinds of problems when I, my colleagues and my dogs should be walking at Burnham, watch our athletes at Athletic bowl , and be proud to say,…I once raced that track, my brother was cheered from the benches and stage as the slugger from the North, all because of the memorable field, kahit na-lubak-lubak na. That field, was not touch before, it was not maintained, but at least IT WAS NEVER USED AS A PARKING SPACE FOR DUNG & WHAT HAVE YOU TRADERS, allowed by these people from the burnham park mgmt board and the city parks management ek ek…. all sitting ducks. ahah.. raging again. no emoticons.
Some people are getting the wrong idea here. Korean want to make the athletic bowl more nicer. They are not trying to destroy it but to actually help Baguio City.
WHAT HAPPENED TO PETER RAY?
I PITTY HIS HONORABLE PARENTS. CAN MONEY REALLY WORM ITSELF INTO THE MIND OF PEOPLE THAT THEY SELL OUT THEIR OWN PEOPLE, THEIR OWN CITY, THEIR OWN CHILDHOOD AND THE CHILDHOOD OF FUTURE GENERATIONS WHO WILL HAVE TO GO TO PAY A MONEY THEY DO NOT HAVE FOR USING A PUBLIC PARK?
100 000 A MONTH FOR 7 HECTARES? MY NEIGHBORS RECEIVED 130 000 A MONTH FROM KOREANS FOR A MERE HOUSE!!!
WHAT A SELLOUT, PETER RAY!
FOR WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS PETER RAY? FOR BUYING YOURSELF MORE THINGS?
WHAT WILL THESE THINGS BE WHEN YOU ARE DEAD, PETER RAY? WHY DO YOU SELL OUT?
I KNOW THAT YOUR MOTHER DID NOT BRING YOU UP TO BE THAT WAY! HOW CAN YOU BRING THIS ON YOUR KIN? OPTING TO BE THE LATEST TOP TRAPO IN TOWN? SELLING YOUR SOUL LIKE THE WILTED “FLOWER OF DOMOGAN”?
WAKE UP PETER RAY FROM THIS POWER TRANCE, WHILE YOU STILL CAN. IF YOU STILL CAN.
HOW WE WISH FOR MEN WITH INTEGRITY LIKE YARRANON FOR EXAMPLE.
Tom
“Some people are getting the wrong idea here. Korean want to make the athletic bowl more nicer. They are not trying to destroy it but to actually help Baguio City.”
The people of Baguio want to make the athletic bowl “more nicer” but having koreans that has a shady organization come in and propose to “develop” the athletic bowl by renting it with pocket change and not even having to sumbit a respectable proposal such as submitting maybe an “Environmental Impact Report” to what could be the consequence of improving this area of the City (i.e. more traffic, more trees removed, impact to the businesses and residence in the surrounding area, etc.). The MOA alone can be completed by non professionals. It does not contain specifics that can protect the people of Baguio in case they decide to make themselves superior to the filipinos (or have they achieved this already?). Then to top it off, the people were not even given the chance to comment on this proposal, whether they approve of it or not, even if it was legal to rent the bowl out, but as we all know it is not so. Read Loreto’s posting above that clearly enumerate that what Pedro and his “cancelors” did was illegal. Kudos to you Loreto (you must be a lawyer).
So what did Pedro do instead of improving athletic bowl? build a very expensive pool adjacent to a poorly maintained athletic bowl (or burnham park for that matter), and continue to propose other “projects” (i.e. satellite markets, ovepasses, etc.) around the city that are practically useless. This mayor has to go!
We don’t need koreans to actually improve our City by renting the bowl, we need a new mayor that can do what Pedro cannot simply do, and with no financial interest (UB)that can manipulate his ideas of improving the City.
Pedro has sealed his fate and will leave the Office with his tail between his legs. That is the legacy that will hunt him for the rest of his life.
A caveat is in order. By the way, is the City Government of Baguio the rightful administrator, operator or developer of the Burnham Park which includes the Athletic Bowl? Nobody seems to have bothered to raise that issue (until now, of course). The answer is NO. Legally and strictly speaking, the City Government of Baguio does not have the power and responsibility to administer, operate, maintain or develop the Burnham Park. The power and responsibility still reside in the Philippine Tourism Authority. Therefore, the lease by the City Government of Burnham Park to the Koreans is illegal and devoid of force and effect. WHY? It is because an Executive Order does not amend, modify or in any other manner change the law. The law here is Presidential Decree No. 1762 dated January 8, 1981. Martial law was lifted only on January 17, 1981. When the late Cory Aquino became President, all existing laws and Presidential Decrees, including PD 1762, remained operative. As the Supreme Court held in David vs. Arroyo, the Presidential Decrees of Pres. F. Marcos had the same category and binding force as laws or statutes because they were issued by the President in the exercise of his legislative power during the period of Martial Law under the 1973 Constitution. Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1762 – - that ceded, conveyed and transferred the Burnham Park Reservation (BPR) to the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) and forbade PTA’s alienating, mortgaging or otherwise encumbering the BPR – - is thus an existing law. Since a mere Executive Order cannot and does not amend, repeal or otherwise change the law, Pres. Ramos’ Executive Order No. 244 and GMA’s Executive Order No. 695 (both transferring PTA’s powers and responsibilities over BPR to the City Government of Baguio) did not amend or otherwise change or modify PD 1762 at all. What result? From January 8, 1981 when PD 1762 took effect until now, Burnham Park legally has not been, and still is, not under the administration, etc. of the City Government of Baguio. The City Government of Baguio is thus powerless to lease the Athletic Bowl or any other part of Burnham Park. Thus, the Korean lease of the Athletic Bowl, a portion of Burnham Park, is without legal basis because the City Government of Baguio had no capacity to lease the Athletic Bowl. It is incumbent, therefore, upon the oppositors to the lease to file the appropriate court proceedings to nullify the lease, if any, by the City Government of Baguio to the Koreans, and to declare once and for all that the PTA is still the rightful administrator and operator of the Park UNDER EXISTING LAW. Since an Executive Order cannot change the law, it takes Congress to pass a law to amend PD 1762 if the intent is to transfer PTA’s administration and operation of the Burnham Park to the City Government of Baguio. Until then, Baguio City will always have usurper King John, bannered by two Executive Orders, lording it over at the Athletic Bowl in the absence of the legit King Richard, the Lion Hearted with the guidon of the Rule of Law.
Nice one Loreto but then it will have its day in court. My next question will be: Since the PTA will be devolved and thus become non-existent, it will be a department under the DOT – TIEZA, that is according to the Tourism Act of 2009, what will happen to the ruling of PTA over Burnham Park/Athletic Bowl/Dominican Hill as they were under the glorious PTA then? Will it not encumber the sustenance of said parks if it does not belong to the City.
Anyhow, if those lawyers at the city council will not win a sit, they can start lawyering for the city based on the above facts… hehehe
Are we out of the woods yet? Did the mayor back out of the deal yet? or have we succeeded in scaring the koreans out of their minds? Please give us an update on what is going on now, thanks.
In our City, we have what we call a “Planning Commission.” This commission is in charge of Urban Planning and the like. This is a group of individuals appointed by the City Council to oversee any development. If a developer wants to develope anything in the city, the plan has to go first to the planning commission for discusssion, approval or denial. After this process, it will be sent to the City Council in the form of an Agenda for final approval or denial. The public then can question the contents of the agenda for further scrutinity during council meetings. I know it is one more step of bureaucracy but in this case it is a good one because it can be used as a check and balance method. Maybe you have a similar setup in your City but if not it would be a good idea to create one.
These people can be volunteers or they can be paid with a little stipened as an incentive for their services. These people could be Architects, Firefighters, Cops, Engineering Students, or anybody interested in serving. They could meet once a month to discuss anything. And this is not limited to the development of the city. They can create any committee or commission, say for health care, gargage problems or drinking water. The point here is to extend a helping hand to the City Council thereby diminishing some of their workload but at the same time make City Hall a little bit more transparent.
Again, I might reiterate that the key to a better City is the “INVOLVEMENT OF THE CITIZENRY.” Mabuhay!
Reply to Cody:
It is just a change of name or technically reorganization without abolition of the old office. Originally, there was the Philippine Tourist Commission. Presidential Decree No. 189 (1973) changed it to Philippine Tourist Authority attached to the Department of Tourism (DOT). Pres. Decree No. 564 (1974) changed PTT to the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) still attached to the DOT to plan and implement tourism development projects. Presidential Decree 1762 (1981)thus made the PTA the logical office to administer Burnham Park. Because EOs 224 and 695 as executive orders could not and did not amend the law, PD 1762, Burnham Park was until the Tourism Act of 2009 still legally and technically under the administration of the PTA. Up to now, the legal experts are either sleeping on the job or in limbo about such legal reality. Now, the Tourism Act of 2009 changed the PTA to the Tourism Infrastructure and Zone Authority (TIEZA) still attached to DOT. The Tourism Act provides that the TIEZA shall CONTINUE TO EXERCISE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE PTA under PD No. 564, unless inconsistent with the Act. TIEZA is mandated by the Act with additional power and responsibility to “regulate and supervise tourism enterprise zones as well as develop, manage, and supervise tourism projects in the country.” So, the PTA under PDs 564 and 1762 is now TIEZA under the Tourism Act of 2009. Since the Act is a law, it amended impliedly the earlier law, PD 1762 to mean that the PTA there is now the TIEZA. TIEZA will have a capitalization of P250 million subscribed by the national government. Accordingly, Burnham Park is under the administration, regulation, supervision, development and management of TIEZA and not the City Government of Baguio. The sooner the powers-that-be come face to face with this legal and constitutional order, the better for the development of Burnham Park to achieve the goals of the Tourism Act of 2009, and the safer Burnham Park will be from condors and vultures in City Hall.
So, Cody, only the name of the office became non-existent but not the office itself which only took on a new name and additional responsibilities and powers for a greater good.
Thanks a lot for exposing this sellout. Probably the Korean investors are only fronts and the real beneficiary is the small but terrible mayor. “Matalino man ang matsing pero nabubuking din”. This deal stinks the same way our garbage hauling to Tarlac stinks.
THIS NEWS JUST RUINED MY DAY. I HATE YOU ALL PEOPLE WHO SIGNED THIS MOA. 100,000? what the **ck!!!! ano ito? space sa mall? the athletic bowl as its name implies is for athletes!!! i am so feeling murderous right now.
To Romeo: We are not stupid, they (who signed the MOA) and the 2 other leaders. I am not sure if there was any form of deliberation amongst the city leaders ( the only source I have is the internet)before the matter was signed.
To Tom: Whatever the intention was is the the issue here. The real question/issue is how the MOA came to exist, what the mayor’s real intentions were, and who got bribed and how much? I have supported (actually fought with my dad over the phone) Peter rey because I thought he would carry on the idealisms that I have seen from his parents. I hope that this is just a one-sided news because if this was true,Kababain, apo mayor. Sayang!!!
To Romeo: Nobody is really stupid, only stupid ideas, such as…”Why not sell or lease the whole Philippines so that we Filipinos would stop going abroad and start making a difference in our country”, now that’s the stupidest idea I have read so far and I really hope you are joking..
Since the time that Peter reinaldo Bautista was elected as Mayor of Baguio I never see his dediction to serve evry people of baguio….Million of pesos was spent in the transporting of the Basura which am sure there are kurakot involving the Mayor itself,, and now he want to sell Atlethic bowl for his own ideas, never confirming the people of Baguio. As if he owns Baguio.. and still he got guts to run for congress… agtalna ka man met Bautista ka.
The people of Baguio are always here to watch you’re bad moves
A true Baguio-hearted person will take care of Baguio…no matter how major or minor his authority may be, he will still think of taking care of Baguio first. Hmmm…our mayor and the others may have household names here, but i think they don’t have a heart that wants to take care of Baguio. For me, they are just aliens talking to other aliens that want to buy and use (or even own) this land that the mountain people love. “Apan da kitdi ilako ken ipausar ti sabali nga tao.” They are not really from around here…maybe they are from Korea!
@Everyone,
I love the way the discussion here is so lively, how everyone in their concern rage, disgust, disappointment, disillusionment has contributed to this issue in a most positive way, opening their eyes and those of others, too.
There’s nothing like a threat to Burnham Park that unifies the people who love Baguio City. It is sad and alarming to note, though, that things had to get from really bad to disastrous before we start acting as concerned citizens.
The greatest societal ill is apathy and, realizing now how our apathy can cause sometimes irreparable damage to our city (like the Camp John Hay privatization, the BGH flyover) we must be vigilant and involved in the affairs of the city always — EVEN WHEN TIMES ARE GOOD.
huwatttttttttttttttttttttttt????
kakaiyak naman ang nangyayari sa Baguio.
Kahit hindi ako taga-Baguio, pero my family considered it as our 2nd hometown. for the past 37 years of my life, less than 5 years of that ang HINDI ako umakyat ng baguio. my family were there during Peping’s storm and this thursday akyat kami ulit dyan.
Hi Eric,
The Baguio residents won round 1. The confirmation to the Athletic Bowl MOA was recalled by the city council due to public pressure. But the Vice-Mayor went on the record saying they are exploring other means to privatize, this time with a Filipino group (as if the issue was the nationality of the lessee and not the horrid idea of privatizing a huge chunk of the park).
I can understand exactly how you feel because Baguio was my second hometown all my life until I made it my hometown in the 1990s. Enjoy your trip on Thursday, and do not be surprised but now Burnham Park is fenced up (another big issue in the city now, that I have not been able to write about here but the Facebook protest groups are all up in arms about it).
I cried reading this Lisa.
I AM ALL FOR THE PRESERVATION OF BAGUIO!
Count me in to join the protest. This is my birthplace and I hold it upmost in my heart even if I lived in Manila most of my life. Gusto kong may balikan ako bago ako mamatay!
Thanks Lisa and to your group for fighting these politicians. They should all be taken out!
Monsters and prostitute politicians, LEAVE BAGUIO ALONE!!!