Exploiting illegal settlers in 211 titles

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March Fianza

Cremation as a way in burying the dead is preferred for personal reasons. It disposes the body faster than through traditional means. It is also an answer to the shortage of burial lots at the public cemetery.

Although Christians preferred to bury the dead claiming that cremation weakened the faith about the resurrection of the body after death. What was taken from the earth has to be returned to the earth.

For Ibaloys, Kakanaeys, Kalanguyas, Ikaraos and other ethnic tribes in Benguet and other parts of the Cordillera, burying their deceased love ones is no problem since they dispose of them in their backyards.

But not in Baguio, a city of migrants. Except for the original Ibaloy settlers who see to it that there is space for their dead in the backyard, the public cemetery is now packed like sardines in a can.

That is why the solution that grave diggers and cemetery workers resorted to is to allow the dead to be buried along pathways, if a family does not permit other relatives to construct tombs on top of others.

The old public cemetery of Baguio has been mismanaged. Why, even with the presence of city-paid private security guards, newly repaired G.I. roofing disappear and bronze nameplates are removed.

There are no more pathways to follow as these are covered by grasses that have grown tall from last year’s cleaning. If not, the pathways have already become burial grounds after these were sold by enterprising cemetery watchmen.

What has become of this beloved city? Cemetery visitors pass the main gate manned by half a dozen policemen who frisk every inch of their bags. They reach the grave of their departed and see cut grasses inserted between unknown tombs.

A city with overflowing coffers has the money to pay for cemetery cleaners. But nobody thinks about that since All Saints Day comes only once a year, compared to sending out garbage disposal trucks every week.

Even the burial grounds of Mayor Eusebius Julius Halsema and his wife Marie Boesel Halsema are not getting the attention of the cemetery administrator anymore. The grasses around Halsema’s marble marker are tall because that corner of the cemetery has been neglected for a long time.

But the disgusting thing to happen to the grave of Baguio’s last American mayor since the last time I passed by three months ago was for it to be encroached by other occupants. This is proof that even the space allotted for the grave of a former mayor can be given away by enterprising administrators.

Except for some Baguio old timers who are aware, the graves of the first American mayor of the Charter City of Baguio and his wife are unnoticed and regarded by passers-by as ordinary burial grounds.

While everybody in the city council knows this, their legislative priorities have not touched on fixing a crumbling public cemetery. Maybe there is nothing to personally gain from there.

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In a community where problems fall like domino bricks, the root of it all is land that is named after just one individual, or the lack of it. This is shown by an ever exploding population of squatters inside a property with a size that is never increasing, that is owned by one person.

Last June, Baguio Rep. Mark Go successfully pushed on third and final reading House Bill 7455, which gives eligible titleholders within Baguio Townsite Reservation an extension of two more years to declare their intention to validate their title.

Sometime in 1912, the court ruled that majority of the lands within the Baguio Townsite Reservation were public lands, thus titles were issued to individuals under Civil Reservation Case No. 1, GLRO Record No. 211.

            After decades of debate in and out of court, and after several decrees and laws were issued to declare the 211 titles legal or illegal, qualified titleholders are now given two more years to revalidate their titles.

            When news of the revalidation came, one politician was quick to capitalize on the sentiments of illegal trespassers now occupying lands with 211 titles, saying they must fight for their rights.

            I strongly disagree with this politician’s crooked counsel to the illegal settlers. In the first place the 211 land titles were issued legally but were petitioned in court for some reasons. Lawmakers in congress saw that extension for revalidation of the titles is what is necessary.

But applications for validation of title must comply with the conditions and other requirements set forth by law. Holders of validated titles are required to pay the amount equivalent to 20% of land's assessed value.

            On the other hand, squatting on public lands, more so on titled private lands is a crime but unscrupulous politicians exploit it.Haan tayo manen mamatpati ti boladas dagita nga kandidakes intun umay nga election!