Watershed monitoring continues to deter squatting
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said that sustained monitoring activities in watersheds continue to deter squatting and other illegal activities within the city’s safeguarded areas.
The mayor said that based on the observations of the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) under Building Officer Arch. Johnny Degay, the surveillance measures have been effective in protecting the watersheds against land speculators.
This year, there were two unauthorized structures spotted and removed after due process, according to Engr. Donald Gas-ib, head of the CBAO Investigation and Demolition Division.
Last year, a total of 489 illegal structures located in safeguarded, military reservation and private lots were demolished including those found in watersheds.
Gas-ib said they observed a reduction in the number of illegal constructions being reported in watersheds despite constant monitoring activities and this could be an indication that the anti-squatting measures had been working since these were revitalized in 2022.
For the milestones in the anti-squatting drive, the mayor lauded the efforts of the City Buildings and Architecture Office, the City Engineering Office, City Environment and Parks Management Office and the Baguio City Police Office, the City Legal Office, the Anti-Squatting and Anti-illegal Structures Committee (ASAISC) and the City Anti-Illegal Structures Committee (CAISC).
The BCPO under Director PCol. Francisco Bulwayan Jr. continues to include watersheds in their daily patrols. Camdas Police Station (PS) 2 is keeping watch over Buyog watershed at Pinget and West Quirino Hill; Aurora Hill PS 6 guards Busol watershed at Ambiong and Pacdal barangays; Pacdal PS 3 scours Busol watershed and Forbes Park forest reservation at South Drive barangay and other safeguarded areas; and Kennon Road PS 8 secures Camp 8 watershed.
Foresters of the CEPMO also conduct regular foot patrol at the Busol watershed forest reservation watching out for illegal structures and illegal cutting of forest products.
The mayor has a standing order for barangay officials to monitor and report illegal constructions in their areas of responsibility whether in private lots or forest reservations. He also encourages the public to report similar occurrences.
As per procedures, owners of illegal structures found in titled lots without ownership issues were ordered to stop construction and secure building permits. Those with conflicts were issued cease and desist orders with the advice to resolve the lot issues.
Constructions on untitled or unregistered lots were issued notices of violation and subjected to investigations. Structures found in safeguarded lots were immediately endorsed for summary demolition. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
