Tuesday, September 25, 2007 Land developers told to secure permits By Rimaliza Opiña
PRIOR to the development of real estate property, developers should now be required to secure locational clearances from the Baguio City Council.
Councilor Isabelo Cosalan Jr., chairman of the City Council committee on urban planning, lands and housing, said this is to avoid the practice of some developers who resort to piecemeal development to do away with their obligations to the government.
The unrestrained development of small residential lots also results to overcrowding, Cosalan said.
A common modus operandi of real estate developers is the introduction of minor developments. Then, residential lands are further subdivided into smaller lots, is titled individually then sold to the public, to do away with the required permits and clearances mandated by the local government and the Housing Land Use and Regulatory Board.
Cosalan said this scheme is also done to get away from obligations like the construction of subdivision roads, drainage, sewerage, water and lighting systems as well as other requirements mandated by the Subdivision Act.
Among the clearances or permits required from developers are locational clearances, development permits and subdivision plans.
Cosalan said without these requirements, the Lands Management Service and Land Registration Authority should refrain from approving the subdivision plan of developers.
