Amnesty for electric, water connections granted

COUNCILORS recently approved a measure granting amnesty to applicants for electric and water connections.

Committee in Public Utilities chairman Councilor Nicasio Aliping recently moved for the suspension of Ordinance 67-2009 allowing owners of buildings and structures without building permits to have electric or water connections from the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) and the Baguio Water District (BWD).

The councilor said several residents are clamoring for the suspension of the ordinance to ease their burden during water and electric connection applications.

Aliping said the granting of an amnesty will help the growing needs of residents for electricity and water, but he emphasized that the amnesty will apply only for a period of three months from the time the measure is approved by Mayor Mauricio Domogan.

He said the amnesty should be applied with the City Building and Architecture Office (CBAO).

The councilor, however, confirmed the amnesty for both electric and water connections do not mean condonation for any amount that is due to the public utilities by the applicants.

The measure, he said, does not also prevent CBAO from demolishing these buildings and structures based on other lawful grounds and violations.