The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is set to bid out the long-term management of John Hay Golf, one of the Camp John Hay estate’s most prominent assets. The current operator will be eligible to participate in the competitive process.
BCDA confirmed to Rappler that bidding will begin in the third quarter of 2026. This marks another step in BCDA’s efforts to move Camp John Hay from years of legal disputes and asset recovery toward long-term redevelopment and management. The golf course is currently operated by a consortium of Golfplus Management Inc. and DuckWorld Philippines under an interim operations and maintenance agreement extended until 2026.
BCDA said the consortium will be allowed to join the bidding. Key details, including the contract term, scope of work, qualifications for bidders, and required investments, have yet to be disclosed. BCDA said these will be contained in the Terms of Reference, which will be released once the bidding process formally begins.
According to a written response from BCDA, John Hay Golf plays a central role in its long-term plans for Camp John Hay. “John Hay Golf is an integral part of Camp John Hay’s vision as a people-centered eco-tourism and sports destination,” the agency said. “More than a recreational facility, it serves as a key attraction that complements the estate’s natural environment, supports tourism, and creates economic opportunities for the local community.”
Part of a larger vision BCDA aims to keep Camp John Hay accessible, environmentally sustainable, and beneficial to both residents and visitors. BCDA added that a more vibrant Camp John Hay could boost tourism, support jobs, and generate business opportunities for local enterprises. In an earlier interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua Bingcang said the agency was looking at a 25-year contract for the operation and maintenance of John Hay Golf.
But the final contract period would be disclosed through the bidding documents. BCDA said it hopes to transform John Hay Golf into the country’s premier publicly accessible golf course.
The planned bidding reflects BCDA’s broader effort to determine the long-term future of assets recovered within Camp John Hay. Beyond the golf course, the agency has been working on new lease arrangements with locators and tenants within the estate while addressing remaining issues linked to the transition, including the proposed segregation of 13 barangays located within the reservation.
For years, discussions surrounding Camp John Hay centered on ownership disputes, court cases, and the government’s efforts to regain control of the property. The focus is now shifting toward how those assets will be managed and developed in the years ahead.
John Hay Golf remains one of the estate’s most recognizable facilities. The 18-hole course spans 5,517 yards and includes banquet and conference facilities, as well as wellness amenities for guests. Whether management remains with the current operator or is awarded to a new concessionaire will be determined once competitive bidding begins later this year.
The government recovered the 247-hectare Camp John Hay estate after a series of court rulings culminating in a 2024 Supreme Court decision. John Hay Golf was reopened to the public in 2025 following the turnover of the property to BCDA.
The BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua Bingcang earlier told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the agency was looking at a 25-year contract for the operation and maintenance of John Hay Golf. However, BCDA told Rappler that the final contract period would be disclosed through the bidding documents.