by RHEE Fer HORTALEZA and JOSEPH C. BACANI

BINMALEY, Pangasinan - Negotiations are now underway for the eventual conversion of a 191,479-square-meter military reservation located at barangay San Isidro Norte here into a tourist destination.

This was disclosed the other day by Mayor Simplicio ‘Sammy’ Rosario in an interview with mediamen after an ocular inspection of the area recently, even as he added that a tourist destination is something that augurs well for the town’s tourism thrusts.

Rosario explained that the area was converted into a military facility under Proclamation No. 119, which was assigned by then President Manuel Luis Quezon on December 18, 1936 or some 70 years ago. Sice then, the Philippine Army used the facility as a training camp.

According to Rosario, if plans materialize, one fourth of the wide area will remain as an Army training camp; while another one fourth of the original area will be utilized for a long-needed housing project of the local government unit for local government employees and some indigent residents of Binmaley.

“The rest of the area will be leased to interested investors who will be joining the local government in developing the place into a modern tourist destination by building hotels or inns therein. Tourists definitely seek a place to stay when they visit Pangasinan, especially the Hundred Islands,” Rosarioi averred.

Nevertheless, Rosario admitted that they will still have to wait for the outcome of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENTO) personnel’s action as they conduct as relocation of the boundaries of the military facility.

“This has to be done by the CENRO first, after it was found out that certain individuals are claiming ownership of some portions of the military reservation,” said Rosario.

Major Danilo Geronimo, commanding officer of the Regional Community Defense Group of the Philippine Army in Binmaley, disclosed that cadastral signs earlier posted or placed by elements of the 54th Engineering Brigade are nowhere to be found anymore — especially after a former mayor of the town allegedly built a big house in the area.

It was learned that the final CENRO report will come in about two weeks. By then, the municipal government under Rosario expects to move on and build a boardwalk in the area by next year.

“This project has P2 million as initial budget,” Rosario concluded.