Lot owner seeks just compensation
A LANDOWNER sought just compensation from the local government unit (LGU) of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, over a property expropriated to construct a public road and bridge.
Angel Enriquez, owner of the titled property, told The Manila Times on Monday, March 11, that her family is asking for just compensation for the 549 square meters that was used when the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) built a 900-meter road and bridge that connects Barangay Bagong Sikat and Barangay Labangan.
Enriquez claimed the government built the infrastructure without their knowledge and consent.
The DPWH has since turned over the two-lane road and bridge to Barangay Bagong Sikat.
Enriquez said their asking price for the affected parcel of land is P8,000 per square meter, which is lower than their selling price of P12,000 per square meter for the entire 31,998 square-meter property in 2020.
The OMNC Bridge was built to connect the two villages separated by the Tubaong River and reduce the travel time of residents and students of the nearby Occidental Mindoro State College and other barangay.
Enriquez said that since no action had been taken by concerned agencies since 2020, her family decided to set barriers and close their side of the bridge on February 25. A notice to the public was issued and letters were sent to barangay offices in early February for the closure of the portion of the road that encroached on private property.
On March 1, the LGU wrote the property owner and demanded the immediate removal of the barrier “for the welfare and convenience of the public.” The owner responded by opening a portion of the road that allowed pedestrians and motorcycles to pass.
In a statement, Mayor Rey Ladaga assured Enriquez that the issue would be settled rationally and peacefully, saying that the LGU conducted a ground verification survey to determine the property line of the titled private property. The LGU found out that a part of the property was encroached upon by the road development project measuring about 549 square meters.
Enriquez first sent a letter to DPWH on Nov. 3, 2020 and to the LGU on Nov. 16, 2020 asking for compensation. On Aug. 5, 2021, Enriquez also wrote the Sangguniang Bayan, and on Oct. 12, 2021, the municipal council issued Resolution 6479, requesting DPWH to facilitate the payment to the family of Enriquez for the affected portion of the property.
On Nov. 3, 2022, the DPWH replied through Department Order 229, series 2022, that the “department shall not be responsible for acquisition of Right-of-Way (ROW) in the implementation of projects involving local infrastructure projects, those under sustainable infrastructure projects alleviating gaps, and projects undertaken by the department through our convergence programs with different agencies. Right-of-Way acquisition shall be the responsibility of the respective LGUs considering that these remain to be the asset of the local government unit concerned, and turned over to them for maintenance and upkeep after completion, in accordance with the law.”