Baguio moves to title P120-M Tuba property

BAGUIO CITY -- The local government submitted to the Registry of Deeds (ROD) of Benguet complete documents required for registration and transfer of the title in the name of the city government on the purchased property in Sitio Poblacion, Topinao in Tuba.
    City Legal Officer Althea Alberto said she personally provided the ROD of Benguet with the complete documents in relation to the earlier request of the local government for the registration and transfer of title of the Topinao property in favor of the city last October 11, 2023 which is now subject for review by the said office.
    She said the local government partially submitted the requirements for registration and transfer of title to the ROD of Benguet last September 25, 2023.
    The city legal officer added registration fees were also paid by the city aside from the transfer, documentary and other similar taxes from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
    Alberto said among additional documents submitted by the city to the Rod were the report of the City Council committee on laws stating among others that the authority from the local legislative body for the said transaction was already implied under Resolution No. 2211, series of 2020 and Ordinance No. 42, 2020 that appropriated the funds used for the purchase of the Topinao property.
    On March 23, 2022, the local chief executive requested authority from the city council for the registration and transfer of the title on the Topinao property that it purchased in the name of the city while a follow up on the matter was made on April 13, 2022.
    In a report dated July 28, 2022, the committee on laws stated that priori authority was already given to the mayor when it acted on the resolution that approved the supplemental Annual Investment Plan for 2020 and the ordinance that provided the funds for the supplemental AIP.

Resolution No. 221, series of 2020 approved the Supplemental Annual Investment Plan (AIP) for fiscal year 2020 of the city of Baguio while Ordinance No. 42, series of 2020 reverted to the general fund the total amount of P704,190,392.00 from unappropriated surplus for 2020 – P94,545,493.00; capital outlay continuing appropriation 2017 and below various offices – P211,326,307.01; local development fund – 2017 and below – P104,155,590.46; refurbishment of city hall – 1,093,605.25; and reversion of obligation – 2017 and below all departments – P298,069,396.28 and re-appropriating the same amount for the funding of various priority projects under the Annual Investment Plan (AIP) for fiscal year 2020 for the City of Baguio.

Part of the said appropriation was the amount of P120,000,000 for the purchase by the local government of land at sitio Topinao barangay Poblacion, Tuba, Benguet.