Council seeks protection of Baguio’s Road Right of Way
3 MIN READ
In reply to the May 27 council session oral motion of City Councilor Fred L. Bagbagen to ask for clarification on the matter by inviting personalities from the concerned government agencies, representatives of the Cyt Needs Identification Committee (CLNIC), City Legal Office (CLO), City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO), the City Engineering Office (CEO) and the Department of Public Works and Highways-Cordillera Administrative Region (DPWH-CAR) answered queries thrown to them by the members of the city council during its regular session on Monday. This is in connection with the reported disregarding of the City’s RRoWs that reached the legislative body of the council.
By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net
BAGUIO CITY — Different agencies of the city government of Baguio were urged by the members of the city council to bind together as one body in coming up with measures and collective actions in protecting and reclaiming Baguio City’s Road Right of Ways (RRoWs).
RIGHT OF WAY. Motorists and some pedestrians often complain about these vendors occupying portions of the Baguio Public Market roads causing traffic that the city government through its Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) conduct regular rounds confiscating and destroying the vendors’ wares. But the vendors keep on coming back, as most of them say, they would not eat if they do not sell on the streets. Photo by Delia Bagni
According to Bagbagen, he noticed that some business establishments as well as residential buildings occupy areas within RRoWs. He said that it seems the city government especially the agencies in charge of the city properties are helpless as the city’s RRoWs are out rightly being encroached by some private individuals. The councilor cited the cases along Marcos Highways where there are some constructions within the RRoWs.
Bagbagen said that it seems that despite that there is a law prohibiting the encroachment or the utilization for private purposes on RRoWs, the violations are rampant and obvious.
Atty. Grace Guillermo representing the DPWH Cordillera admitted that they can only charge a person violation of Presidential Decree17 or the Philippine RRoW law with a minimum fine of P1,000.00 and a maximum imprisonment of six months. She said the DPWH Cordillera is coordinating with the CEO because it is the proper body which have the power to demolish any structures within the RRoWs aside from they have the capacity to do it.
Vice Mayor Daniel Fari?as said that the issue is an area of concern as the continuous disregard of the city’s RRoWs adds to the deterioration of the city. He said something serious should be done. “It should be a wake-up call for us,” he said
Atty. Melchor Carlos Rabanes of the CLO said they handled such case of constructing within a RRoW, and he said there is a certain Department Order of the national office of DPWH number 52 directing the DPWH district offices to remove or demolish any obstructions and illegal structures. But Atty. Guillermo said they still have to coordinate with the city government for the proper implementation of such demolition.
Councilor Perlita Chan-Rondez noted that the different concerned agencies are going to the long processes of coordination and getting court orders for demolitions and other steps that makes the clearing of the RRoWs long. She suggest that the government agencies should come together and talk and agree in deriving a way in shortening the processes in demolishing illegal structures and show that they mean business.
Members of the city council on collective motion pass a resolution urging the DPWH in strictly implementing DPWH DO 52. # nordis.net
