CLARK FREEPORT—The Congressional Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability has stopped the sale of Paskuhan Village, one of the tourism gems of Pampanga, to a leading mall developer in the country.
Ronaldo “Ronnie” Tiotuico, regional director of the Department of Tourism in Central Luzon, said he was informed of this Monday by Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Rogelio Gonzales, who filed Resolution No. 654 regarding the committee’s decision to halt the sale of the 9.3-hectare Paskuhan property to a private corporation in the City of San Fernando.
According to Gonzales, the Christmas Village will be returned to Pampanga, Tiotuico said.
The village, which was the site of the international flower festival called Flora Cultura, was sold by former governor Mark Lapid as head of the Tourism Infrastructure Zone Authority (TIeZA) to a firm for P939.6 million last year.
However, the sale is being questioned by the province of Pampanga, City of San Fernando, and non-government organizations, claiming they have the priority in the development of the village to boost their tourism programs and generate employment for their constituents.
The complainants said the sale was not in accordance with proper procurement policy of the government, because all five bids for Paskuhan belonged to the winning bidder.
As result, Gonzales filed the resolution last January before the House committee clarifying the status of the sale in aid of legislation.
The Paskuhan Village, which is near the exit of North Luzon Expressway along the Jose Abad Santos Avenue in San Fernando, was owned by the late Jesus Lazatin, who donated it to the government for its development as a theme park and for the holding of the yearly Christmas lantern festival in the area.
The village was constructed during the time of Gov. Bren Guiao and inaugurated by President Corazon Aquino in 1990.
The JASA road, formerly known as the Gapan-Olongapo road, is now mushrooming with business establishments, and the cost of land per square foot there is valued at P50,000 and up.
Meanwhile, Tiotuico warned tourists, specially those accepting cruise services in Central Luzon, from paying online transactions, but instead go to the bank or do face-to-face transactions.
Many victims have complaining to Tiotuico about the modus operandi of some travel agencies who “disappear” after prospective tourists make payments online, he said.
Travel agencies, numbering about 150 in Pampanga alone, would usually offer very cheap cruises around Asean countries and Europe. However, when the tourists make their payment, the agencies’ addresses could no longer be traced, Tiotuico said.
“Don’t be lazy and make your payments face to face and get official receipts,” Tiotuico advised frustrated tourists.