BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan underscored that the city is not abandoning its request to the Department of Agriculture (DA-CAR) for the segregation of a 10-hectare portion of the 92-hectare Baguio Dairy Farm to be used for the priority needs of the city.
The local chief executive said that one of the proposed use of the requested area is the put up of a central bus terminal for south-bound buses and the relocation of the city’s abattoir to accommodate the increasing number of traders.
“We are just awaiting the final date of our scheduled meeting with Agriculture Secretary Piñol to reiterate the local government’s request for the segregation of a portion of the Baguio Dairy Farm for some priority needs of the city, especially with the worsening traffic congestions around the central business district area,” Domogan stressed.
He added DA officials seem to be receptive to the request and the local government needs to continue reminding them of the desired land area to be segregated considering the rapidly increasing needs of the city in terms of land area that could be developed for its needs.
According to him, local officials are grateful to DA-CAR regional officials for favourably endorsing to Secretary Piñol the approval of the permit for the temporary use of a portion of the Baguio Dairy Farm as the city’s temporary staging area for the hauling of its residual waste in response to the closure of the staging area of the private hauler in Lamtang, Puguis, La Trinidad, Benguet.
DA-CAR officials were grateful for the use of the area as the city’s temporary staging area because it was able to contribute in preventing the return of the informal settlers whose structures were earlier demolished from the place and that its development will greatly help in improving the situation in the area.
Domogan emphasized one of the priority programs of the city is for the transfer of the south-bound terminal along Gov. Pack Road to a portion of the Dairy Farm property to lessen the worsening traffic congestions in the area for the benefit of both the residents and visitors alike.
Earlier, some portions of the Dairy Farm were titled in favour of ancestral land claimants but the titles that were issued were allegedly cancelled due to alleged fraud involved in the issuance of the same to the supposed claimants, thus, the DA-CAR is trying to work out the appropriate strategies to prevent the government property from being invaded by informal settlers and land speculators.
The Dontogan Elementary School is situated within the Baguio Dairy Farm property but the existence of the school is by virtue of added of usufruct issued in favour of the Department of Education by the DA, thus, the need for concerned government agencies and the local government to work together for the identification of the areas that will be segregated in favour of the city for its priority needs in the future.
By Dexter A. See
