THE Human Settlements and Development Corporation (HSDC), which currently owns and manages the Maharlika Livelihood Complex (MLC) right in the central business district of Baguio has yet to act on the 2022 request of the Baguio government to turn over the MLC ahead of schedule.
The HSDC is set to transfer ownership of the MLC to Baguio City in the year 2025 when its 50-year contract expires. Baguio in 2022 petitioned the HSDC to conduct the turnover early.
Atty. Maan Elago who represented HSDC said the turnover of the Maharlika building should first go through the approval of the Government Commission for GOCCs (GCG). Elago says that the GCG has yet to respond to the request, stalling the process.
The HSDC is an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA). In 2013, the recommendation for the abolition of several Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations which included the HSDC was approved by the Office of the President under a memorandum. However, the delay in the transfer of its management led to some of the HSDC employees being rehired to manage the operations of HSDC.
In its 2015 audit report, the Commission on Audit stated that the delay in the transfer of operations and management of the Maharlika Livelihood Complex to another government agency hindered the abolition of the HSDC and the transfer of its remaining assets and balances in the books of accounts to the DA.
