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Monday, September 26, 2005
Watershed squatters face eviction
ABOUT seven families living inside the Busol watershed reservation, particularly at the East Bayan Park in Aurora Hill, Baguio City, will soon be ejected after Mayor Braulio Yaranon ordered the demolition of their houses for violation of Presidential Decree (PD) 1096 or the National Building Code and PD705 or the Philippine Forestry Code.
The houses that are made up of concrete, wood and galvanized iron sheets are not covered by building permits and built inside the reservation area.
Yaranon said to protect the area from intrusion there is an urgent need to remove the ongoing, newly-built and other illegal structures in the area considering that Busol is a watershed reservation.
A report from the Busol Task Force (BTF) and the City Building and Architecture Office said the structures that include a three-storey concrete house were constructed sometime between 2001 and 2004.
The same report also revealed that despite advice to cease and desist from illegal construction activities in the area, squatters resisted the order and continued to do house improvement and did leveling and ground clearing.
A member of the BTF said occupants do their illegal activities during weekends and holidays when forest rangers are not on duty. The squatters have not only constructed houses but also cut matured trees and did excavation works.
"Worse, they even tried to intrude a portion of the muyong or reforestation area of the eco-walk group by installing barb wire fence. The barb wires however were later removed," BTF members said.
Orlando Genove, head of the demolition team, said the demolition has already been scheduled on October 4 to 7 and letters of demolition advice were forwarded to the would-be affected occupants.
He however emphasized that the respondents have the right to go to court to question the demolition order.
Forester Pascual Abaclod of the Forest and Watershed Management Division said to strengthen the protection and conservation of the area, barangay officials should also adopt regulatory measures against the proliferation of squatters in their respective jurisdictions.
The squatters have been blamed in the gradual decline of water supply in the area.
(September 26, 2005 issue)
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