Demolition of illegal houses inside BAI property slated

By Dexter A. See 

BAGUIO CITY – Demolition of hundreds of illegal structures inside the property of the Bureau of Animal Industry here would soon be done to prevent further encroachment of the government property.

Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan said legal experts from the city government will be meeting with their counterparts from the Cordillera office of the Department of Agriculture to hasten the demolition.

While some portions of the BAI property were proposed site for low cost housing previously, Domogan said such proposal was not approved.

“We were surprised to learn that some enterprising individuals were able to sell parcels of land inside the BAI property to our buyers in good faith that subsequently resulted to the putting up of structures which are illegal,” Domogan said.

“Local residents and buyers should be advised that no parcel of land within the BAI property is for sale at the moment,”Domogan added.

          

Reports reaching the mayor showed land speculators had been convincing individuals to buy parcels of land within the BAI reservation with amounts ranging from P15,000 up to P60,000 and that they could already construct their structures in such pinpointed properties because it was already approved by the mayor.

          

However, Domogan said he had no authority to approve sale of land inside the BAI property because it was  a proclaimed reservation and that the authority to do so lies with the President of the Republic of the Philippines.

           

The local chief executive urged DA-CAR legal officers to immediately apply for the issuance of the mandatory writ of execution from the proper court where the case was earlier resolved in favor of the government so that the demolition of the illegal structures done.        

For those who paid money to land speculators, Domogan said they should  demand return of their money because there is no available lot for sale inside the BAI reservation.

          

According to him, once the writ of execution will be available, the DA and the city government could  proceed with the demolition of numerous structures which in the area.