BAUKO, Mountain Province – Mayor Abraham B. Akilit issued Executive Order No. 16, series of 2019 creating a municipal task force against illegal structures and obstructions and mandating the immediate demolition of the same and the clearing of public roads from obstructions.
The task force started with the assigned task by dismantling a police community precinct constructed within the road-right-of-way in barangay Mabaay last Tuesday to send a clear message to private property owners that encroached on the road-right-of-way and easements to voluntarily remove their illegal structures and not await for the task force do such work.
Under Akilit’s order, the task force will be headed by municipal planning and development coordinator Walter B. Dalang with municipal agriculture officer Alfredo Diano as vice team leader.
Further, the members of the task force includes municipal general services officer Clarence C. Golocan, municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer Marcos Na-oy, municipal treasurer Beatrice C. Dipalog, Police Major Yojean C. Cabay, SFO3 John Dacwag, Richard Bugnosen, Lambino Bugtong, Joseph T. Guilod, Teodro L. Kitan, Jouster P. Mangay-at and Benjamin P. Tanggacan while municipal local government operations officer Judy Piluden, Judge Jocelyn Humiwat and District Engineer Alexander C. Castañeda as the task force advisers.
Akilit directed the members of the task force to closely coordinate with the barangay officials where the demolition of illegal structures or clearing of obstructions on public roads will be done to ensure utmost transparency in the exercise of their assigned duties and responsibilities.
Section 455 of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local Government Code provides that municipal or city mayors shall require owners of illegal constructed houses, buildings or other structures to obtain the necessary permit, subject to such fines and penalties as may be imposed by law or ordinance, or to make necessary changes in the construction of the same when said construction violates any law or ordinance, or to order the demolition or removal of said house, building or structure within the period prescribed by law or ordinance.
Akilit underscored the demolition of government structures by the concerned agencies and the municipal government is a clear warning to private property owners that have existing illegal structures and those that obstruct public roads to start voluntarily dismantling the same and not await for the task force to do so.
In his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Rodrigo R. Duterte ordered all local chief executives to dismantle illegal structures and obstructions erected on public roads within 60 days for the public to maximize the purpose of the spaces.
He appealed to the public to cooperate with the task force to prevent any untoward incident that may transpire between the private property owners and the members during the implementation of the demolition or removal of the illegal and obstructions erected on public roads around the municipality.
By HENT
