WITH the proposed anti-squatting ordinance, an executive order is also underway to address the squatting activities in La Trinidad.

Mayor Romeo Salda said as the Municipal Council is deliberating on the “La Trinidad Anti-Squatting Ordinance,” an executive order will soon be drafted.

The executive order also incorporates the inputs of the municipal engineer and municipal legal office.

Areas with proliferated squatting activities are Peripin Bato in Pico and parts of the Puguis Communal Forest.

"In the Peripin Bato they cannot monitor with many squatters in the area, the executive order will be basis to issue demolition order," the mayor adds.

Recently, lawmakers in the valley crafted an anti-squatting ordinance to handle professional squatters in the Benguet capital town with prescribe procedures and guidelines in the imposition of eviction of illegally constructed structures.

The proposed ordinance also include the creation of a local committee on anti-squatting to identify the professional squatters and squatting syndicate and prescribe guidelines in evicting illegally constructed structures.

Last June, stakeholders accommodated by the municipal council requested for the Philippine National Police to investigate on the possible existence and proliferation of squatting syndicate within the private properties of Peripin Bato, Pico and other barangays in the municipality.

The appellants conveyed that appropriate legislative action be taken to support the local executive in issuing demolition order pertinent to local government code provisions.

The municipality is not spared as there are valid reports of actual squatting activities being facilitated. Despite various measures issued in support to the Urban Development and Housing Act (RA 7279) instituting mechanisms to curb the nefarious activities of professional squatters, it is still commonly observed that they still continue to thrive the headache of the local government units, legitimate land owners and victims of squatting syndicate.

A public hearing is set at 1:30 p.m. on August 23 at in the Lednicky Hall to hear recommendations in the enactment of the proposed ordinance.