Council probes Hwa Ping building works

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The city council will summon key agencies to their session on April 6 to shed light on the planned constructions of Yu Hwa Ping on a property reserved for the city’s use along Chuntug St. below city hall.

The body Monday approved resolution of Councilor Fred Bagbagen to invite the city legal office, city planning and development office, city engineering office, city buildings and architecture office, Dept. of Public Works and Highways,  Baguio City Engineering District and Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources to give updates on the concern.

Bagbagen said Hwa Ping “illegally titled the said lot to his name and introduced several improvements therein (despite) being part and parcel of the City Hall reservation under Proclamation No. 62 and is not alienable and disposable under townsite sales application (TSA).”

He said that a multi-story building is now being constructed on the lot.

“Such introduction of high rise building may unnecessarily obstruct the City Hall’s aesthetic, symbolic, civil and focal point of an urban landscape that should be maintained in which the public has invested tax monies,” Bagbagen said. 

It will recalled that former city building official Oscar Flores’ refused to issue Hwa Ping a building permit citing that the lot is intended solely for gardening, protection and parking.

Flores’ move was sustained by DPWH Secretary HermogenesEbdane.

However on January 25, 2010, the Office of the President reversed and set aside Ebdane’s move and ordered the issuance of building permit to Hwa Ping.

Flores filed a petition for review before the Court of Appeals on Sept. 29, 2011 calling for the reversal of the decision of the Office of the President.

The CA in July 2014, dismissed Flores’ petition but Flores again filed a motion for reconsideration which remained pending to this day.