Anti-squatting law pushed

A LAW has been proposed to handle illegal settlers in Benguet’s capital town.

The La Trinidad Anti-Squatting Ordinance authored by Councilor Roderick Awingan, co-authored by Vice-Mayor Joey Marrero seeks to create a committee to identify professional and syndicated squatters, giving guidelines to the imposition of eviction for illegally constructed structures.

Awingan said the proposed measure aims to address the squatting issue in the municipality.

"There is a need to establish an anti

squatting policy to halt the continued menace on squatting, not only for the protection of the land's rightful owner, but on maintaining the sustainably peaceful, serene and environmental friendly municipality," the proposed ordinance states.

The municipality is not spared as there are valid reports of actual squatting activities being facilitated. Despite various measures issued in support to the Urban Development and Housing Act (RA 7279) instituting mechanisms to curb the nefarious activities of professional squatters, it is still commonly observed they still continue to thrive the headache of the local government units, legitimate land owners and victims of squatting syndicates themselves, the proposed ordinance added.

Under the proposed ordinance, the La Trinidad Anti-squatting committee will be created headed by the local chief executive as chair to adopt measures and effectively curtail the activities of squatting activities in the valley.

Upon the recommendation of the committee, the local government unit will summarily evict the offenders and demolish their dwelling structures.

Pre-requisite ,issuance of the summary eviction notice, implementation of the summary eviction notice, and post eviction are created as procedures and guidelines in the imposition of summary eviction to illegally constructed structures.

A public hearing is set next week on August 23 , 1:30 p.m. at the Lednicky Hall, to hear recommendations in the enactment of the proposed ordinance.