Baguio Council to quiz Discayas over P110-M tennis court, parking building

BAGUIO CITY — The Baguio City Council will summon the Discaya couple to explain the involvement of the St. Gerrard Construction company in the P110-million Burnham Park tennis court and parking building project, which has drawn criticism for poor quality and lack of transparency.

Vice Mayor Faustino A. Olowan said the invitation aims to clarify the group’s role in the controversial project, which was already inaugurated last May despite ongoing complaints.

The firm was reportedly blacklisted in 2020, raising questions about how it secured the contract — particularly under Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong.

Mr. Olowan said, “We need to set the facts straight,” with several councilors backing a resolution to formally summon the Discayas in the next session.

Facing public pressure, Mayor Magalong has since called for an independent third-party probe. “This is about protecting public interest,” he said, though he earlier defended the project’s legality.

Lawyer Francis Camtugan, who first flagged the issue, believes local officials — including the Bids and Awards Committee — must also be held accountable. He stressed the need for full transparency of all project documents.

Mr. Camtugan also warned that summoning the Discayas could create a “security nightmare” and asked, “Are we ready to pay the price?” — Artemio A. Dumlao