Baguio City exec questions amnesty for illegal settlers
She said that such buildings in these lands will destroy the environs in the city
BAGUIO CITY — Baguio City building official Nazita Bañez said that granting amnesty to owners of structures without building permits applying for electric and water connections will only contribute to the environmental degradation of Baguio and encourage illegal settling.
Bañez explained to the members of the Baguio City Council that applicants for electric and water connections built their structures on public lands that are not intended for human settlement. She said that such buildings in these lands will destroy the environs in the city.
The official was called by the local legislators prior to their passing of another ordinance granting amnesty to water and electric connections. An Amnesty Ordinance was passed as a response to the clamor of constituents who were not able to comply with the imposed requirements due to time constraint and financial limitations within the period of 3 years provided for by City Ordinance Numbered 15 Series of 2016.
According to the Council, the Ordinance does not, in anyway, condone the construction of structures in violation of the National Building Code of the Philippines and other related laws. Section 3 of the ordinance states that “the City Buildings and Architecture Office and other concerned agencies shall not be prevented from demolishing said structures based on other lawful grounds.”
Bañez hope that whatever the council decides to come up with, it should not be in conflict with the executive body’s objectives for the revitalization of the environment. The official also raised concerns on the safety of people who illegally built houses on lands that are prone to landslides and accidents caused by falling trees.
She explained that the city is giving or denying building permits to people after checking whether their structures and the areas they settled are safe. Bañez also stressed that Many of these houses are within forest reservations and public lands which are protected areas.
“Granting amnesty to applicants creates conflict in the function of my office. We demolish illegal structures, but here’s a law granting the request of illegal settlers for electric and water connections. We demolish and we tolerate,” Bañez stated.