BY: JOSE ROBERT INVENTOR
More than two decades since a landmark agreement between the Baguio City government and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), residents and local officials continue to push for the implementation of a long-standing provision to segregate 13 barangays from BCDA jurisdiction.
During a dialogue in Barangay Upper Dagsian, residents voiced their frustrations over the BCDA’s failure to comply with the 19 conditionalities of the 1994 John Hay Master Development Plan—one of which involves turning over administrative control of several barangays to the local government.
Joselito Shontogan, a resident of Upper Dagsian, said their movements have been limited due to the lack of land titles and recognition of ancestral claims. “During the American period, we were free to build our homes, but now under BCDA, even business permits have to be secured from them,” he lamented.
Baguio City Representative Engr. Isabelo “Poppo” Cosalan Jr. emphasized that BCDA must comply with the agreement, which clearly stipulates the transfer of jurisdiction over the identified barangays and exclusion of public utilities like schools and roads from BCDA control.
“The local government must have jurisdiction over these areas. That’s the essence of segregation,” Cosalan said, adding that the issue has affected proof of ownership for many families.
Cosalan proposed that the segregation be formalized either through a law incorporated into the City Charter or through an executive proclamation from the President.
He stressed the need for unity among the 13 barangays to bring a stronger voice to the national level, saying, “There should be a clear direction, and that begins with a united stand.”
Since 1992, the BCDA has held authority over former U.S. military bases, including Camp John Hay, where many of the affected barangays are located.
