215 illegal houses in city gov’t lots issued notices of violation

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) has issued notices of violation to owners of 215 illegal structures found within five lots owned by the city government.

In their report to the Management Committee Dec. 10, Archs. Johnny Degay and Stephen Capuyan of the CBAO said their investigation resulted to the identification and location of the informal settlers at the following city properties: titled property measuring 3,879 square meters lot at Leonila Hill with two illegal structures; titled lots measuring 774 square meters and 1,497 square meters at Amparo Heights in Camp 7 with three and four illegal settlers respectively; Slaughterhouse Compound at Sto. Niño barangay covered by Proclamation No. 312 with 86 identified illegal structures; and lot identified for city needs straddled by barangays Camp 7, Bakakeng Norte, Sto. Tomas Proper and Sto. Tomas Apugan with 120 settlers.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong recently ordered the CBAO to begin the process of ridding all city-owned properties and lots identified for city needs of squatters in preparation for the implementation of the various environmental, economic and social programs lined up for the city in the coming years.

The mayor also directed concerned offices to protect said lots including those reserved for city and barangay needs in various locations in the city.

Titled properties should be reclaimed from squatters while those reserved for city needs which include vacant forested areas measuring 530.47 hectares should be processed for titling under the city government’s name.

City Planning and Development Coordinator Evelyn Cayat earlier assured that the tracts of land have not been titled in favor of any private individuals.

She said the city had submitted the inventory of the these lands reserved for city including the 173 lots identified for barangay needs to the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources Cordillera (DENR-CAR) as a safeguard against attempts to have them titled by private entities.

The mayor said the forested must be preserved in line with his administration’s program to revitalize the city’s environment.