BARANGAY Chief Manolo LLaneta, together with residents of Scout Barrio, are one in opposing possible hospital construction in their area.
LLaneta said formal opposition has been made to City Hall as well as the John Hay Management Corporation and the State-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) through letters when plans to construct a hospital at the open field were revealed.
Soil testing has been confirmed by the JHMC and a letter from Allan Garcia was sent to the barangay noting their opposition on the matter.
LLaneta said it was in July when a group was spotted doing an ocular inspection at the Scout Barrio open field, upon inquiry, the plans for a hospital were bared.
Weeks later, a new group was again seen at the site by Baguio General Hospital doctors doing an inspection for the same project.
LLaneta has since gone to the JHMC, City Hall to oppose the project with the backing of residents of his barangay.
A petition from residents circulating in social media detail the area where the hospital is to be built is being used for events, campsite for children and schools, an evacuation site in time of disasters. The area is also an income generating zone for the barangay as ecological damage is also feared as well as the destruction of the historical significance of the area.
LLaneta said during meetings with the city mayor and the JHMC for the eventual segregation of the barangays within the Camp John Hay property, opposition to the project has also been aired.
The segregation of nearby barangays from Camp John Hay, which was included in the 19 conditionalities of the city has long been overdue.
If and when the barangays are segregated, control will be within the local government and the barangays, for now, the 13 barangays with CJH are under the control of the JHMC.