In Baguio City, the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) has committed to supporting Korean retirees who have been impacted by the recent takeover of leased areas within Camp John Hay. This action follows the Bases Conversion and Development Authority’s (BCDA) decision to reclaim the area, which includes hotels where approximately 40 Korean retirees have been living.
Eric De Ausen Pati, head of the PRA North Luzon Satellite Office, emphasized the agency’s primary goal of attracting foreign retirees to the Philippines and ensuring their well-being as a token of appreciation for choosing the country as their second home. He mentioned that the PRA has been instructed to monitor the situation closely and provide necessary assistance to the affected retirees.
The retirees, who have invested in condotels at the Manor Hotel and Forest Lodge since 2014, expressed their dismay over the sudden eviction. Among them are elderly individuals in their 70s and 80s, as well as a young family with a baby. They voiced their desire to live peacefully in their chosen homes until 2046 or for the rest of their lives.
Jangean Lee, an 82-year-old retiree, lamented the disruption to their peaceful lives post-takeover. Sungil Lee, 70, shared his concerns about having to discontinue his scholarship program due to the eviction, which would force him to return to Korea. Heewoong Ahn, a younger retiree in his 30s, married to a Filipino and father to a child, called for media support to help resolve their situation peacefully.
The BCDA’s takeover was executed on January 6, following a Supreme Court order. The retirees argue that the eviction lacks due process and contradicts the democratic principles they believed allowed them to own their properties until 2046. The PRA’s intervention aims to mitigate the impact on the retirees and safeguard the reputation of the Philippines’ retirement industry.