‘Demolition’ of structures in Loakan Airport stalled as flights start operations

By Jordan G. Habbiling

BAGUIO CITY -- Residents near the Loakan Airport here are apprehensive waiting for updates from the city government regarding status of their settlements which was reportedly due for demolition as part of regulations to prevent accidents.
    This, as flights at the airport resumed Dec. 16.  
    Eduard Cayetano, Punong Barangay of Loakan Proper, told the city council Dec. 12 there had not been any conference yet with the city government’s anti-squatting and anti-illegal structures committee since 2020.
    In January 2020, around 180 owners of structures reportedly situated within the buffer zone were issued notices of violation pursuant to Mayor Benjamin Magalong’s call for an investigation on the said buildings and houses.
    This was in preparation for the opening of the airport to commercial operations.
    The buffer zone measures 75 meters from the centerline on each side of the runway.
    In a council session on Feb. 3, 2020, engineer Stephen Capuyan, head of the Investigation and Demolition Division of the City Buildings and Architecture Office, clarified the violation notice was to merely inform the occupants they violated Section 22 of the Environment Code of the City of Baguio or Ordinance 018-2016 (prohibition against erecting a structure on a safeguarded zone).
    No notices of demolition had been issued yet, he said.
    As part of the preliminary investigation, the residents were mandated to submit copies of their lot titles, building and occupancy permits, and other pertinent documents. 
    Capuyan said, based on the results of the initial investigation, most of these buildings and houses can be considered as illegal structures as they were not issued building permits and the lands were untitled. 
    In a recent interview, Capuyan said results of the initial investigation were forwarded to the Anti-Squatting and anti-illegal structures committee for the latter’s action.
    In a separate interview, lawyer Charles Dumasi of the City Legal Office, said the  ASAISC had requested CAAP to conduct land survey to accurately identify  metes and bounds of the safeguarded zone and to exactly determine which structures situated therein.
    Dumasi said the investigation had been put on hold since CAAP had a reference point for the measurement of the buffer zone which might be different from that of CBAO’s.
    According to him, the results of the land survey to be conducted by CAAP would serve as the primary basis for the government’s future actions to address the issue of squatting in the area.
    H    is advice to the affected residents was to wait for the results of the said survey.
    Asked about the best course of action for titled properties found to be within the buffer zone, Dumasi broached the idea of expropriation.
    He said the concerned government agency or local government unit may propose to purchase these private properties.
    Expropriation proceedings may be initiated if the property owners reject the price offer, but it is the CAAP that will have to execute the said move, he added.
    Expropriation is the government’s action of claiming private properties even against the will of the owners for public use or benefit.
    During forum with the city council on Feb.  3, 2020, Magalong cited possibility of giving just compensation to residents holding legitimate land titles as a result of expropriation. Meanwhile, Cayetano lamented the tagging of all residents in the area as illegal settlers.
    He claimed that some properties therein were titled and had been there circa 1910.