Squatters at BIBAK lot

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

BAGUIO CITY – For so long, squatters in Baguio have been perceived as being tolerated by city officials. Lately, they have been called “informal settlers”-- to ease the stigma of the original tag.

Now observers are watching with keen interest considering that officials made pronouncements that squatters, like those who have encroached on roads would be eased out.

                

One particular issue is the so-called BIBAK (Benguet-Ifugao-Bontoc-Apayao-Kalinga) lot along Harrison Road, which officials said, would be rid of squatters.

A report by Aileen P. Refuerzo of city hall’s press information office said the city government is working out the demolition of some 55 illegal structures at the government property referred to as BIBAK lot.           

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said the city anti-squatting committee is preparing a resolution for issuance of demolition orders for dismantling of these structures based on investigation report of the city building and architecture office and public order and safety division.

            

The mayor said even the Regional Development Council expressed support to the city government’s plans to clear the lot of squatters.The mayor said the occupants are not entitled to relocation privilege as they occupied the lot beyond the March 1992 cut-off period.

            

Last year, the city council served intention for the city to acquire ownership of the BIBAK lot and to apply for the acquisition of the land for public needs after confirming that the lot which remains a government property cannot be transferred to the Centralized BIBAK Association being a private entity.

            

Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources Cordillera representative Edgar Flor then said the lot was plotted in the name of the Centralized Bibak Association but was not issued a proclamation as the national government cannot name it to the said association being a private organization.

            

The said lot used to house the dormitory for students from the Cordillera region which was previously managed by the Centralized BIBAK Association.

            

Two buildings were said to have been constructed on said lot in the early 1960’s and were managed by the BIBAK Association as a dormitory for students from the Cordilleras.

            

The management of the buildings were turned over to the then Ministry of Human Settlements-National Housing Authority.

In 1983, the city engineer issued a demolition order to pave the way for the construction of student housing facilities by the said agencies but the planned demolition was aborted with the abolition of the MHS-NHA.

Part of the lot was also reportedly allotted in the ‘80s as site where local media could set up an office. But then, squatters built structures over the lot and nothing happened with nary a complaint from members of the Fourth Estate.  

In 1990, the Cordillera Executive Board caused the construction of the BIBAK multi-purpose building on the site of the former dormitory but there was no record of a building permit for said structure.

            

In November of same year, the CEB turned over the building to the Office of the National Cultural Communities but the Cordillera Regional Assembly continued to occupy the facility.

            

In 2006, former mayor BraulioYaranon ordered the demolition of a structure being built on the lot based on the complaint of then BIBAK Students Dormitory Inc. president Constancio Manglan.

            

On the same year, the municipal council of Tuba town in Benguet passed a resolution inquiring from the DENR Land Management Bureau on the status of said dormitory site with the hope of reviving the project to help Igorot students facing hardship in renting boarding houses.

                

This maybe putting the cart ahead of the horse considering the illegal structures at the BIBAK lot haven’t been demolished yet, but a public hearing on what to do with the lot should be held.

                

For sure, a lot of ideas would spring out during the hearing, and of course, there would be heated arguments. But such is the essence of democracy.

Now observers are saying Domoganmaybe contemplating retirement as he is starting to show signs of being resolute in his programs like ridding roads of illegal vendors and of course – squatters.