It’s business as usual for the Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevCo) as it is set to open the CJH Suites on Sept. 1 despite disagreements with the Bases Conversion Development Authority.

CJHDevCo Chief Operations Officer Alfredo Yñiguez III said the private developer is set to open the 55-unit CJH Suites, which is just beside The Manor Hotel.

“It’s a long wait and we are excited to open it during the Baguio Day celebrations,” he said.

It was only until recently that CJHDevCo secured the necessary occupancy and fire safety permits from  city hall.

The construction of the CJH Suites started in 2004 and was reportedly completed in 2008.

CJHDevCo, however, failed to get an occupancy permit and a fire safety certificate from the BCDA, which claims to have the right to issue both to its lessee.

Yñiguez said they have pressed BCDA to release the certification until they approached the city government, which issued the permits.

The city government earlier invoked its authority and jurisdiction to issue permits to CJH locators and not the BCDA.

The BCDA, through its president Arnel Casanova said it is their office, which issues an occupancy permit as Department of Public Works and Highways Sec. Rogelio Singson authorized them.

BCDA, meanwhile, iterated its earlier decision to terminate its contract with CJHDevCo, saying the termination was due to material and incurable breaches, foremost of which is the lessee’s continued refusal to pay its lease to the national government, which has already ballooned to more than P3 billion.

“CJHDevco directors have already benefited in the past 15 years exploiting government property for their own personal gains. Such practice no longer has a place in the present administration,” Casanova said in a statement.

The termination notice was served to CJHDevco last May 16 ordering the lessee to pay its total obligations and vacate John Hay immediately.