Baguio tackles double fees, permit delays in Camp John Hay

BAGUIO CITY — The Baguio City Council met with barangay officials, Camp John Hay authorities, and city department heads on November 3, 2025 to address persistent complaints of double charging and prolonged permit processing affecting residents and businesses in the 13 barangays surrounding Camp John Hay.

The forum, initiated by Councilor Paolo Raynor Salvosa, focused on long-standing reports that residents are required to pay similar fees to both the city government and the John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC)/Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), particularly for tree-cutting, minor home repairs, and barangay projects.

Country Club Village Punong Barangay Nestor Almag said residents are charged P3,000 plus seedlings by the city government and an additional P2,500 by JHMC for the same tree-cutting activity.

JHMC legal officer Atty. Mary Ellen Cabuhat clarified that tree-cutting falls under DENR or the City Environment and Parks Management Office, but she committed to verify allegations of dual fee collection.

She also expressed JHMC’s willingness to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the city to settle overlapping authorizations.

Beyond fees, barangay leaders raised concerns over delays caused by JHMC approval requirements for bringing construction materials into Camp John Hay—even for residents with ancestral domain titles.

Happy Hallow Barangay Captain Soriano Palunan said these delays hamper government-funded community projects.

Cabuhat explained that JHMC only issues conditional permits allowing repairs and basic maintenance, with no horizontal or vertical expansions permitted.

However, residents cannot obtain full building permits from the city because the lots remain under BCDA ownership.

Councilor Joel Alangsab described this as a “circular dilemma” where repairs are allowed only with city-issued permits that the city cannot legally issue inside the reservation.

The situation persists despite a 2024 city council resolution imposing a status quo on demolitions within the Camp John Hay reservation to allow repairs on ancestral lands.

Salvosa recommended amending the resolution to clearly define which repair and construction activities are allowed.

Issues on business permits were also discussed.

Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda noted that many establishments in the area only receive temporary permits due to lack of recognized proof of ownership.

City Treasurer Alex Cabarrubias said that although the Supreme Court has authorized the city to issue permits in the area, coordination with JHMC remains inconsistent.

To address this, the city council passed a resolution directing the City Planning, Sustainability and Development Office (CPDSO) and City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) to develop mechanisms for issuing business permits to establishments outside the Camp John Hay Economic Zone.

For barangay-led infrastructure, Councilor Van Oliver Dicang flagged delays caused by JHMC approval for material entry.

He proposed a streamlined workflow wherein JHMC pre-validates project plans and pre-issues necessary permits once a barangay Program of Works is approved.