Biz couple slams execs on ‘selective’ laws in Sagada

SAGADA, Mountain Province – A couple, who are known entrepreneurs from this world famous town, slammed the municipal government for alleged selective implementation of national and local laws, especially in securing building permits prior to construction of small or big structures.

The spouses Wilson and Narda Capuyan were surprised to receive a notice from the local government requiring them to first secure a building permit and a clearance from the Housing, Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) to reportedly support the construction of their 2-bedroom cottage located within their declared property within the famous view deck at Kiltepan, which municipal earlier declared as a municipal park but the same was junked by the provincial board upon review.

To their surprise, the couple expresses disgust to know that they were only the ones that were issued such notice when there are numerous on-going constructions in the different parts of the town, including several structures owned by incumbent local officials.

As responsible citizens, the concerned entrepreneurs willfully complied with the notice and were willing to pay the necessary fees to be directly paid to the local government but such building permit was never issued up to the present.

Obviously, the move of the local government to require the couple to secure the necessary building permit and HLURB clearance, which are required only for subdivisions, is part of a grand design by local officials to harass the couple in order to give up their property which they bought from the Lam-en family to suit the personal interest of a top municipal official who want to control the property which is a potential tourist destination because of a clear view of the daily sunrise.

However, the Capuyan couple claimed they are the ones in possession of the appropriate documents stating that part of the property is under their name and they have willfully allowed the same to be used for free by the public over the past several decades just to allow the influx of foreign and domestic tourists who want to have a glimpse of the scenic sunrise.

If the municipal officials want to require building owners to secure the required building permits prior to the construction of new structures, the Capuyans claimed the same must be applicable to all and not for the local government to be selective, discriminatory and oppressive in the enforcement of such requirement so that everyone will be in the same footing because they recognize the spirit of the law that the same must be applicable to all.

According to them, the discrimination they are getting from the local officials of their hometown is not a reflection of the ability of incumbent politicians to efficiently and effectively manage the municipal government, thus, they are leaving the matter to the trend of the times who will eventually judge those who are seemingly discriminatory in the enforcement of national and local laws. -- Dexter A. See