Baguio demolitions get flak

EDITORIAL

There appears to be inconsistencies in implementation of demolition orders in Baguio City and for this, the anti-squatting team was asked to shed light on demolition procedures as some have complained that their structures or houses have been demolished even with court orders stopping such action.

For this, the city council has asked members of the city anti-squatting committee to shed light on the manner of implementing demolitions of illegal structures in the city in the body’s regular session on March 10.

The body will summon city administrator Carlos Canilao who heads the committee, city building official Johnny Degay, city demolition team head Nazita Banez and public order and safety division head Fernando Moyaen.

Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr. who proposed a resolution for the purpose said the body needs to be “properly apprised and guided in coming up with supplemental legislative measures to address” concerns on the procedure being observed by the committee.

In his resolution, Yangot said there are many illegal structures in the city that have been issued demolition orders and many of these orders have been carried out but there are also cases where these orders have been contested and brought to regular courts for the issuance of temporary restraining orders or injunctions due to unresolved conflicts between the concerned parties.

Yangot said there appears to be some inconsistencies in the manner of implementing the procedure.

“One alarming case that was brought to my attention as chairman of the city council committee urban planning, lands, housing and relocation sites is the recent incident where Demolition Order No. 01 series of 2013 was implemented despite a court order stating that ‘the parties agreed that they will maintain the status quo which is that the demolition will not be implemented pending the hearing on preliminary injunction,’” Yangot noted.

He said this should be clarified and threshed out to guide the body in coming up with corrective measures to make the procedures more effective and responsive. 

With this, affected residents and the demolition teams would be guided in acting accordingly.