City council probes plan to buy P95-M Tuba lots

‘Purpose unclear’ 

By Jordan G. Habbiling

BAGUIO CITY -- The Baguio City Council, last Monday deferred the request of Mayor Benjamin Magalong for execution of “authority to a deed of absolute sale for parcels of land at Topinao, Tuba, Benguet, saying there was need to probe the matter.
    The two adjacent parcels of land, with TCT Nos. 016-2022000726 in the name of William Tan and Hazel Dominique Tan and 016-2022000727 in the name of William Tan, have a combined area of 63,585 square meters.
    The properties are being sold to the city government for P95,377,000.
    In his letter to the city council, Magalong said the property acquisition is an identified priority project for the city.
    Its source of funding has been appropriated under the Annual Investment Plan for Year 2020 through Ordinance 42-2020 which was approved by the city council in 2020.
    The properties are accessible through Santa Lucia Gate 4 and through Asin Road.
    City Assessor Almaya Addawe disclosed said the properties to be bought will be utilized for land banking.
    According to Oxford Languages Dictionary, land banking is “the practice of buying land as an investment, holding it for future use and making no specific plans for its development.”
    The properties have sloped terrain.
    According to Addawe, a geohazard study had been conducted in the area.
    The study indicated engineering interventions should be made to avoid landslides. 
    The city council, however, decided to defer its action on the request of the mayor for execution of the said absolute deed of sale pending another discussion regarding the matter with the City Planning and Development Office. 
    The discussion with the CPDO was set on May 23, 2022.
    Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda said she would like to find out from the CPDO whether the purchase of the said properties is included in the city’s comprehensive land use plan now undergoing revamp. 
    Tabanda added there was need to further discuss purpose of the properties in question.
    Meanwhile, Councilor Michael Lawana said the city government should study the matter further to find out whether purchasing the said properties is considered a priority project.
    He added the Annual Investment Plan for 2020 was crafted before the Covid-19 pandemic.
    “Now that the city coffer is being exhausted for pandemic response, purchasing these properties for land banking may not be a priority project,” Lawana said.