Sagada land owners hit dads for ‘land-grabbing’

By Dexter A. See

SAGADA, Mountain Province – Concerned owners of prime lots in this world famous tourist town are of the consensus that it is difficult to be generous to everyone since the time will come that they will see their property being owned by others.

Lawyer Grail Lam-en-Military, daughter of the late Assemblyman Alfredo Gayagay Lam-en, said their family had been very accommodating in allowing part of their property in Kiltepan to be used as a viewdeck for the famous viewing of the sunrise the past several years.

Despite the property being owned by private individuals, the municipal council passed an ordinance declaring the Kiltepan viewdeck area a public park amidst the existence of documented private owners.

According to her, the municipal council should have conducted appropriate consultation and research to determine if the property is owned by private individuals before passing the legislative measure so prior rights will not be infringed upon.

Earlier, concerned property owners in the town warned other owners of prime lots since alleged abusive local officials might declare their lots as public domain in their desire to own the same.

The Kiltepan viewdeck, which is owned and declared under the name of former Assemblyman Lam-en, is frequented by hundreds of foreign and domestic tourists daily because of the clear view of the sunrise which comes after the clouds that covered the mountains move up.

Because of the conflict between private land owners and the municipal government over the ownership of the property, the provincial board referred back to the municipal council the approved ordinance establishing the Kiltepan viewdeck as a public park in order to settle the claims.

Militar said local officials must respect the rights of property owners over the Kiltepan viewdeck since this had been long declared their property prior to the approval of the controversial ordinance.

She added the fact that they have allowed the viewdeck to be used by the people for viewing the sunrise is an indication of their generosity and consideration for the upliftment of the booming tourism industry but not for the local government and its officials to use it in depriving them of such rights.