Camp John Hay opens with better facilities, services

With the government gaining control of Camp John Hay, the 625-hectare economic zone is expected to have better facilities and better services for the public to enjoy.

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), together with interim managers Landco Pacific Corp. for the hotels and the consortium of Golfplus Management Inc. (GMI) and DuckWorld Philippines for the golf course, set in motion plans to further improve Camp John Hay and make it more accessible to the public.

BCDA president and chief executive officer Joshua Bingcang said they will leave no stone unturned in giving the public better facilities and services in John Hay Hotels, which used to be known as The Manor and Forest Lodge, and John Hay Golf.

“We want to emphasize that Camp John Hay is not only back to the government’s possession. It is now back to the Filipino people,” Bingcang said in a statement.

“With this, we want to ensure that all Filipinos can now enjoy the world-class leisure destinations within the camp, and we will do that while maintaining and improving the facilities and services.”

Enveloped by rustic pine trees, lush greeneries, and the cool mountain breeze of Baguio City, John Hay Golf features challenging terrains and fairways designed by world-renowned golfer Jack Nicklaus — elements that helped position this course as a favorite among local and foreign golfers.

Under the BCDA’s management, the golf course, which previously served as a private playground for select golfers, is now open to the public, making it accessible to more Filipinos who want to try the sport or simply enjoy the amenities.

Even as the golf course becomes public, BCDA and GMI-DuckWorldPH assure that the quality of the golf course and its facilities will remain in tip-top shape, with improvements and rehabilitation works already underway.

“The objective is to make it the best golf course in the Philippines and keep it accessible to the public,” Bingcang added.

GMI president Eduardo “Bong” Arguelles, bringing his expertise in managing other premier golf estates in the country like Nuvali and Alviera, also commits to maintain and upgrade the golf course.

“That’s the objective that we are after — everything should be the best. Not only the golf course, but eventually we will also improve the facilities like the club house, because that’s part of the whole experience,” Arguelles said.

The consortium will also assess the condition of the golf course during the interim period and recommend long-term improvements to the facilities. Among these is the rehabilitation of the irrigation system, which is crucial in the maintenance of the golf course.

These recommendations will be implemented by the long-term operations and maintenance (O&M) partner to be tapped by the BCDA.

Bingcang said the BCDA targets to bid out the O&M project within the year, once it has studied the best model for golf operations.

With the grand mission of raising Camp John Hay’s tourism landscape, MVP Group’s real estate and hospitality arm, Landco Pacific, readily extended its hand to the BCDA for the seamless transition of management and uninterrupted provision of services at The John Hay Hotels.

“Even during a challenging period of transition, the BCDA and Landco Pacific made sure that tourists and hotel visitors were not affected,” Landco Lifestyle Ventures head Patrick Gregorio said.

“The hotels remained open, and services did not cease even a single minute.”