BAGUIO CITY – The members of the Inter-Agency Composite team for the validation and investigation of the Illegal structures at the Baguio Stock farm recently convened for a briefing and walk through on the activities to be conducted prior to the demolition process at the said area.
Representatives from the DA-Research Center headed by Magdalena Wanawan, Baguio City District Engineering Office, City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Public Order Safety Division (POSD), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) joined the activity in order to look into the illegal structures which will be subjected to demolition in order to spare the Baguio Dairy Farm from further encroachments.
The team was divided into three groups and were assigned to conduct a walk through to the different areas in the Baguio Stock farm and conduct the needed census on the existing illegal structures which will be subsequently issued demolition orders by the city government of Baguio and Tuba municipal government.
The areas covered include a portion of Marcos Highway, Bantay Kalbo, and the area behind the PhilVolcs compound, all within the Baguio Dairy Farm, one of the few reservations in the Summmer Capital.
It was agreed upon during the briefing that the teams shall take pictures of the illegal structures located within the vicinity for geo-taggingand inquire from the owners whether or not they have the required building permits to cover the construction of the houses and buildings in the area.
After the walk through, the different groups convened again to share notes on their findings and observations which would serve as a major reference in the issuance of the appropriate demolition orders against the structures.
Accordingly, there are around 153 illegal structures and activities that were spotted. CBAO first reported a total of 215 structures last 2014 while recent estimations showed that there are around 400 illegal structures in the Stock farm.
The meeting and walk through is part of the various activities to be done under Phase I which is the validation and investigation by the members of the Inter-agency composite team.
Other activities under phase I include the delineation of political boundary of Tuba and Baguio City; workshop for post evaluation, report writing and complete staff work for submission to the Mayors of Tuba and Baguio and other concerned agencies, and monitoring and follow-ups for the implementation of Phase II which is the Pre-demolition.
The activities under Phase I is expected to be completed by April this year.
By Anna Marie Bautista
