Demolition of 58 houses at Baguio BIBAK lot set

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The city government is set to demolish 58 illegal structures at the Benguet-Ifugao-Bontoc-Apayao-Kalinga (BIBAK) lot here along Harrison Road as anti-squatting drive intensified in this tourism resort. 

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said the city buildings and architecture office under engineer NazitaBanez issued notices to owners to voluntarily vacate and dismantle their constructions otherwise government forces will undertake the demolition on August 11-14.

Banez said the BIBAK building will not be torn down but will just be padlocked.

The mayor expressed hopes that the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor will no longer object to the move after its commissioners personally saw the situation in the area particularly the fact that the area is occupied by poor residents but by “unscrupulous individuals profiting from a government property.”

The city’s bid to clear the lot measuring about 5,000 square meters is supported by the from former leaders of the BIBAK Student Dormitories Inc., the Regional Development Council and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Cordillera (DENR-CAR).

The city earlier planned the demolition but was held back when PCUP chair Hernani Panganiban asked Domogan to defer the implementation of the planned demolition of the structures pointing out the need to observe proper procedures and to ensure that the rights of the owners will not be violated taking into consideration the settlers’ claim that they are members of the marginalized sector and have been occupying the BIBAK compound since 1982 and thus are qualified to stay in the area or be granted relocation privileges under Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992. 

The city however said the lot needs to be cleared as it was intended for BIBAK housing needs and that the present occupants are private individuals who entered the property without permission and are now utilizing the area for profit.

The said lot was segregated from Original Certificate Title No. 01 in favor of the BIBAK Dormitories Inc. in 1961 and thus “was slated to cater to the housing needs of the students coming from the BIBAK areas.”

Banez told newsmen notices of demolition have already been issued to occupants of the area.

The city’s bid to clear the lot received a boost from former leaders of the BIBAK Student Dormitories Inc. who committed to support the city government’s move.

Domogan said association members sought him out recently asking how the group can help the city government and promised to back the city’s plan to eject the squatters and clear the area.

The group served intention to reclaim the lot which was originally reserved for housing needs of students from the BIBAK areas but which is now occupied by private individuals and being used for business purposes.

The RDC In a resolution passed in 2013 supported the city’s plan to immediately demolish the illegal constructions in the area citing need to establish dormitories for BIBAK constituents.

Last year, DENR-CAR OIC regional director Paquito Moreno also supported the city’s demolition plan in the area as he turned down the petition of the OCT No. 1 settlers to own the lots they are occupying.

Moreno said the DENR being the administrator of the lots under OCT 1 has advocated “best use” of the property and a demolition to be executed by the city mayor’s office will help the department enforce its mandate.