Estrada’s log cabin in Baguio up for bidding

THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority is leasing out 31 vacation homes in Camp John Hay in Baguio City, including the 1,200-square-meter log cabin once used by ousted President Joseph Estrada, an official said Monday.

The cabin, the most expensive of the lot, carried a minimum bid price of P93.32 million for a 25-year lease, said the authority’s executive vice president, Aileen Zosa.

“BCDA is leasing out [the vacation homes] … to generate revenues and to maximize the properties while these are still in salable condition,” Zosa said.

She said the agency hoped to raise P362.18 million if all 31 units were taken.

DMCI Homes, Cocolife-Camp John Hay, Grandia MRF Services, Explorer Resources Corp., Blue Data, and representatives of Pier Vitalini bought the terms of reference, but not all of them attended the pre-bid conference at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Zosa said.

The pieces of property consist of five log homes, 16 manors and 10 suites.

Each of the smaller log homes sits on 589.99 square meters, while the biggest of the manor units occupies 145.82 square meters.

The 10 suites are 40 square meters to 70.65 square meters in size.

“All units are in good, salable, and tenant-able conditions,” Soza said.

“The manor units and suites units are being maintained by an affiliate of Camp John Hay Development Corp., BCDA’s lessee for the Camp John Hay tourism complex, while the log home units are being maintained by the BCDA.”

The pieces of property were payment in kind for the debts accumulated by the Fil-Estate group.

Zosa said the long-term lease covered 25 years and was renewable for another 25 years.

The log homes are sold bare, except for the former Estrada log home, which is fully furnished. The manor and suites are also furnished.

Julito Rada, Manila Standard Today