BAGUIO CITY -- Officials of Camp John Hay announced here Wednesday that the American-built facility is still taking the eco-tourism path towards its goal of keeping its brand as a choice rest and recreation haven in the Summer Capital of the Philippines.
"As a short-term plan, (we aim) for the protection and preservation (of the environment), but for the long-term plan, (we aim) for development and growth, continuous development as a tourism destination,” John Hay Management Corp. (JHMC) Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Maria Teresa Tabalingcos said in a press conference.
Tabalingcos said the tourism facility aims to stay as a tourist and local-friendly destination.
“As of now, we cannot say we can bring new businesses because of the other issues, but what we can say is that the development and growth of John Hay will be for tourism and protection of the watershed area and other areas of responsibilities,” she said.
Camp John Hay was established by the Americans in 1903 as a rest and recreation facility for United States military servicemen in the country. It served as such until it was forced out of the Philippines in 1991, as American facilities nationwide were then ordered by the government handed over to Filipinos.
John Hay has since been opened to the public under the Bases Conversion Development Authority, but still, as a tourism destination.
Business climate
A total of 113 businesses are currently operating inside the John Hay Special Economic Zone in Baguio, zone manager Zaldy Bello told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
These enterprises are in tourism, retail, and food.
Bello said the companies opt to operate inside the facility because of the “John Hay” brand, including the memories they have of John Hay as an American facility, "the quality of air inside," the availability of parking areas, and the "safe environment," on top of the "prospects of a good business."
He noted that with Baguio's increased accessibility to Metro Manila, with the opening of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Express Way (TPLEX), more people are expected to visit John Hay, not only to relax but also to do business in the city.
"We want to create a camping site for the eco-tourism activities,” Bello disclosed, pointing out these could boost John Hay's support facilities, such as food establishments.
He said the facility is not after "big-ticket" businesses, but wants to retain its good, old John Hay feel.
With its naturally lush environment, John Hay is eyeing the prospects of medical tourism and embracing the brand of being a retirement village, he added.
Such vision, Bello said, is sure to create more jobs for the locals.
He said John Hay implements a policy that at least 60 percent of its employees are locals. “At present, the workers come from BLISTT (Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay), which is about 92 percent," he said. (PNA)
