Baguio protects remaining forests preserves

BAGUIO CITY — Vast tracts of forested land identified as protected zones in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) of the city need to be shielded from lot speculators and encroachers who may take interest in acquiring the land illegally.

City Planning and Development Coordinator Evelyn Cayat revealed that the public lands covered by pine trees have a larger aggregate area than the city’s parks, adding that these have been designated as protected forests.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had been properly informed of the existence and situation of these protected zones as part of the CLUP documents furnished the agency and it is assumed that the agency will work for their protection.

The inventory will be turned over to the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) for adoption of measures to protect the land from encroachers.

Cayat assured that the tracts of land have not been titled as the titling procedure would require that documents pass through her office for the issuance of the mandatory clearance.

CEPMO Assistant Department Head Rhenan Diwas said that as part of their new program, they plan to clear forest reservations of shrubs and transform them into picnic or hiking spots to make them accessible to people, similar to the Camp John Hay forest reserve.

“With this program, we hope that the people’s constant presence in these places can be a deterrent against squatters,” Diwas said.