The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) has been ordered to conduct 24/7 patrolling of the Busol and Buyog watershed reservations in a bid to arrest the rampant construction of more structures within its territory.
Currently, the city is dismantling a pair of concrete structures in the process of being built at the East Bayan Park side of the reservation. Previously protected from demolition by temporary restraining orders, the structures were eventually dismantled after the owners failed to obtain a court injunction.
The City Building and Architecture Office (CBAO) assured that the city will continue to demolish structures within the watersheds that violate earlier agreements between the city and the locals.
“Any new structure being built, especially in protected areas should be immediately demolished,” Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong has ordered.
During the first term of Magalong as mayor in 2019, he led the conduct of a series of dialogues with the watershed occupants informing them of the city’s demolition of illegal structures.
“We need to finally put an end to this decades long problem, we shall continue to take action and remove illegal settlers within our watersheds for the benefit of the people,” he said.
In 2021, the city and the residents of the four barangays that border the watersheds came to an agreement to cease construction within the area, but recent inspections show violations and new structures within the reservations.
