Baguio gov’t demolishes Naguilian road structures

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The clearing operations along Naguilian Road started Feb. 13 with an initial batch of 32 structures that encroached into the road right-of-way targeted for demolition in the operations scheduled Feb. 13-14 and March 12-13.

Assistant City Engr. Constancio Imson of the City Engineering Office said the Dept. of Public Works and Highways Baguio City District Engineering Office under District Engineer Rene Zarate listed a total of 330 structures built on the RROW of the highway.

The clearing’s baseline will be 10 meters from the centerline of the road which Imson said would mean around seven meters from the road’s edge as the existing road width of one lane of the highway measures 3.10 meters. 

Like in the case of Marcos Highway, Mayor Benjamin Magalong refused compromise with residents who sought a dialogue with the chief executive last Feb. 6.

The mayor said the operation is non-negotiable as the extensions and encroachments were against the law and the order which emanated from the President had to be carried out.

Imson said 24 structures are also set for removal in the continuing clearing operations along Marcos Highway scheduled on March 25-26.

Out of the 292 total number of illegal structures, 118 were torn down mostly voluntarily demolished by the owners.

A total of 122 were able to present land documents including those subjected to court cases and covered by restraining orders.  

Imson said demolition operations jointly undertaken by the DPWH-BCDEO, the City Engineering Office under Engr. Edgar Victorio Olpindo and the City Buildings and Architecture Office under Officer-in-Charge Arch. Johnny Degay, will continue until the target is achieved.