BAGUIO CITY – The Presidential Commission on Urban Poor (PCUP) is currently searching for a Baguio-based representative to the City Anti-Squatting Committee in order to speed up the demolition of illegal structures that were erected by informal settlers in the different government and private properties in the different parts of the city.
In a recent meeting with Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan, PCUP Chairman Hernani Panganiban committed to the local chief executive that the agency will appoint its permanent representative to the anti-squatting body so as not to contribute in the serious delays in the implementation of demolition orders already issued against informal settlers.
Panganiban recognized the importance of a permanent representative to the local anti-squatting body in order to prevent serious delays in the implementation of demolition orders that were already decided upon by the collegial body thereby preventing any appeal to the PCUP.
Domogan explained that the dilemma of the city government in the immediate implementation of demolition orders is that after the same has been decided to be issued by the city anti-squatting committee, aggrieved parties resort to appealing the decision to the PCUP that contribute in the delay of the implementation of the order.
“PCUP’s representative to the city anti-squatting committee should be knowledgeable on the situation of the lands in the city so that there will be no future problems on delaying tactics that will be employed by aggrieved parties in case the committee does not decide on their favour,”Domogan stressed.
While the PCUP has been entitled to a representative to the city anti-squatting committee representing the urban poor, the local chief executive cited the presidential body never sent its duly authorized representative to the committee that is why aggrieved parties see it as an opportunity to further delay the implementation of issued demolition orders by appealing their case to the PCUP central office.
According to him, PCUP’s representative to local anti-squatting bodies cover a large area in Luzon that is why he cannot attend to the regular meetings of the city anti-squatting committee which is now being used by informal settlers that are on the brink of demolition to question the decision of the said local committee.
The city mayor admitted the land problems in the city are very complicated that it needs an individual who is familiar to the prevailing situation to render a firm decision on the matter, irregardless of whatever alignment because he already is aware of the intricacies of the existing land issues citywide.
Domogan is optimistic that PCUP will be able to find a qualified urban poor representative to the city anti-squatting committee so that the city government and the PCUP will be able to establish a harmonious working relationship that would protect legitimate owners rights over their private properties in the different parts of the city.
Panganiban also assured Domogan that the agency will directly get in touch with concerned city officials in cases where they will receive appeals from affected informal settlers before issuing the appropriate letters requesting the local government to defer implementation of demolition orders among others.
By Dexter A. See
