Illegal structures on Baguio roads slated for demolition

BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways – Baguio City District Engineering Office and the city government warned owners of houses or establishments constructed on road rights-of-way of roads here their structures will be demolished if they will not voluntarily remove such obstructions to pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

         

Ireneo S. Gallato, DPWH-BCDEO district engineer, said coordination with city government and Baguio City Police Office was done for joint inspection of structures.

           

“We are elated over the cooperation being shown by owners of structures built on road rights-of-way because they committed to voluntarily remove these the soonest,” Gallato said.

He added what makes their job difficult was removal of permanent structures that encroached on road rights-of-way considering they have to await final resolution of the city anti-squatting committee before they could demolish such obstructions.

            

Gallato said owners of temporary structures will now be required to sign commitment letters that will state their willingness to demolish their illegal structures within the prescribed time or else the joint inspection team will demolish such obstructions.

            

According to him, upcoming demolition orders to be issued by the city government covering illegal structures on road rights-of-way will now be jointly signed by the district engineer and city building official.

            

He said as per Department Order No. 52, DPWH is empowered to implement demolition of illegal structures along roads with proper coordination with local governments because they lack manpower to remove illegal structures, thus, the need for the assistance of the public order and safety division (POSD) and police.

            

Gallato cited blatant violations of owners of illegal structures for encroaching on roads and absence of building permits from the city government to cover said structures, the object of complaints from pedestrians and motorists.

            

He appealed to barangay officials to help in the monitoring of illegal structures being built in their areas so illegal constructions could immediately be stopped  during the earlier stages of construction instead of waiting for structures to be completed warranting the issuance of demolition orders that take much time to process.