Demolition of illegal squatters

EDITORIAL

The planned demolition of around 400 illegal squatter houses and buildings by the city government within the Baguio Dairy Farm here at Green Valley would be an acid test for the city government considering  “owners” said they won’t leave if the city officials won’t present to them court orders that they have to vacate these. 

There are more than 400 squatters who built structures without securing building permits out from the previous 254 and notices of demolition orders would be given to “owners” after these are validated to have been illegally built or without government permits, according to Mayor Mauricio Domogan.

Domogan said together with the local government of Tuba, Benguet headed by Mayor Florencio Bentrez, directed a team composed of representatives from City Buildings and Architecture Office, City Engineer’s Office, Department of Public Works and Highways- Baguio City District Engineering Office, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture and the Baguio City Police Office to hasten investigation regarding massive squatting within the Baguio Dairy Farm along Marcos Highway.

Domogan said the Baguio Animal Industry is a reservation under the Dept of Agriculture.

Problem is more than 62 hectares of the Dairy Farm had been issued a Certificate of Ancestral Land Title (CALT) by the National Commission of Indigenous People (NCIP) in favor of the heirs of Ikang Paus.

The DA earlier filed a case against the squatters occupying said lots and won the case.  But despite this, the DA is still waiting for the writ of execution to carry out the demolition of the illegal structures.

 Based on reports, there are significant number of land sold to individuals, thus, proliferation of structures within Dairy Farm.

Domogan said despite issuance of CALT, it is prohibited to sell or dispose portion of ancestral land to any individual unless they are member of indigenous people (IPs) since the purpose of ancestral land claims is to preserve ancestral domain of IPs.        

Domogan had urged the DA to assess present situation at the Dairy Farm and forward it to the Solicitor General Office and closely coordinate with the city government.

The city mayor said even if”owners” owned the lot if they did not secure building permits, the authorities will have right to stop them until such time that they have complied with requirements.    

The team was tasked to investigate, validate and identify location of structures and determine number of illegal structures built within Baguio City and structures built within Tuba, Benguet.

At press time notices of demolition order from the city government of Baguio and the local government of Tuba, Benguetwere reportedly  issued simultaneously to concerned individuals. The next scenario would unfold next week particularly if the “owners” or squatters would resist demolition of their houses.