Settlers occupy 12 hectares of Baguio Buyog watershed

Folks in watersheds given amnesty; granted water connections 

By Jordan G. Habbiling

BAGUIO CITY -- Mayor Benjamin Magalong signed a city council resolution Dec. 27, 2022 granting amnesty to long-time residents inside watersheds in this summer capital for water supply connections.
    Based on a survey of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources Cordillera, as relayed by the Baguio Water District, of the 20 hectares delineated for the Buyog Watershed, 12 hectares are now occupied by settlers while the remaining 7.92 hectares are still forested.
    Other watersheds like Busol had also been occupied by settlers.
    This, as the resolution was passed unanimously by the City Council Dec. 19, 2022.
    The resolution said the right of every citizen to have access to clean water should be respected and should be of higher importance than certain policies without necessarily condoning their acts of occupying the watershed areas.
    “The government, as part of its commitment under the international and national laws, must respect and promote the basic human needs to access clean water for their survival, sanitation, and hygiene,” the resolution said.
    The resolution authorized the Baguio Water District (BWD) to approve pending applications as long as they are qualified based on requirements.
    The council resolution was a result of the forum in the city council on Nov. 21, 2022.
    Prior to the forum, Pablo Pawi, punong barangay of Pinget, wrote  the city council to ask for help with their appeal for a water service connection.
    Attached in the letter was a list of 25 residents in Pinget not serviced by the BWD.
     Attending the said forum, lawyer Chanell Dolor de Guzman, BWD senior corporate counsel, said Proclamation no. 93, s. 1992 which established the Buyog Watershed withdrew the entire area from entry sale, disposition, or settlement.
    “Inasmuch as we understand the predicament of the petitioners considering that, indeed, water is a basic human right, the BWD’s hands are tied by restrictions due to the fact that we have to protect the water sources therein,” de Guzman said.
    City council members said aside from Proclamation no. 93, s. 1992, Section 5-f of Ordinance 67-2009 categorically prohibited installation of electric and water supply to structures “within government reservations, school areas, national and forest reservations, duly identified watershed areas, road right-of-ways and on dangerous areas as identified by the proper government agency.”
    De Guzman said the BWD had not granted any application for structures situated within forest and watershed reservations since the passage of the ordinance.
    She added no exemption had been given to any applicant residing within a reservation so as not to create any precedent.