By Eva C. Visperas

 

SOMETHING amazing is happening in the historic town of Bayambang.

Significant progress has been made, culminating in the groundbreaking for the BYB Metro on June 24, 2024. This 67-hectare development project is located in Barangay Bani, adjacent to the Saint Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park.

I often passed by the area on my way to my hometown, Binmaley. For nearly 30 years, I wondered why this vast barren land remained undeveloped. That changed with the construction of the Guinness World Record-holding St. Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park, which has drawn numerous visitors since its completion.

The 50.23-meter statue of St. Vincent Ferrer, erected on April 5, 2019, is recognized as the tallest bamboo sculpture in the world. The park also features a chapel, the Stations of the Cross, and various food establishments, making it a popular destination.

Despite these developments, the land opposite the park remained untouched—until now. Last Monday, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the BYB Metro project, envisioned by former mayor Cezar T. Quiambao, commonly known as Mayor CTQ, as commercial district and residential subdivisions.

This theme park is poised to become a major tourist attraction in Pangasinan and Northern Luzon but not without challenges. And Mayor CTQ took the opportunity to address land-grabbing accusations hurled against him during the project’s groundbreaking ceremony. He defended his position by detailing the history of the land acquisition from Central Azucarera de Tarlac (CAT) Realty, owned by the Cojuangco family.

He said:

• August 4, 1975: The Cojuangcos first attempted to develop the property.
• The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Sec. Estrella issued an order converting the land to an alienable and disposable residential-commercial-industrial property.
• Farmer-petitioners filed for the revocation of DAR’s permit to convert the property.
• August 2, 2006: Due to farmer protests, DAR Sec. Pangandaman revoked Estrella’s order.
• October 11, 2006: CAT Realty filed a Motion for Reconsideration.
• November 6, 2006: DAR revoked the order again.
• August 15, 2008: CAT Realty filed another Motion for Reconsideration, which was denied by Sec. Pangandaman.
• June 19, 2012: The Court of Appeals denied the petition of CAT Realty.
• July 31, 2013: CAT Realty filed another Motion for Reconsideration.
• 2017: CTQ bought the land during his term as mayor.

Mayor CTQ emphasized, “Ano bang proyekto ang maaari kong gawin na makikinabang ang lahat? And the only place I saw where this is possible is this place.”

He added, “Nakita ko na nandito ang pag-asa ng Bayambang na magkaro’n ng proyekto na kakaiba sa lahat. I bought it pero andaming problema. May kondisyon: Kapag nawala yung mga protesta, that’s the time I have to pay.  Nakita niyo how positive thinker I am? Isang problematic na lupa, but I dreamed of it as BYB Metro.”

• April 5, 2019: The Quiambao family erected the Guinness World Record for the tallest bamboo sculpture of St. Vincent Ferrer at the St. Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park, on land donated by CAT Realty.
• September 14, 2021: The Supreme Court granted the petition of CAT Realty, reversing earlier orders of DAR and the Court of Appeals.

Mayor CTQ concluded by addressing the rumors of land-grabbing: “Hindi namin kinamkam ang lupang ito…Wala akong inapakang tao!”

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