BAGUIO CITY – The City Government recently earmarked some P3.5 million to bankroll the fencing of the city-owned property in Gibraltar barangay to prevent further encroachments in the said property.
City General Services Officer Romeo D. Concio said the survey of the metes and bounds of the property has been completed and will be submitted to the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) for the preparation of detailed plans and specifications for the fencing project.
At the same time, concerned city hall offices will conduct a joint investigation on the existence of informal settlers who built their structures within the property to guide authorities on actions to take to spare the property from being squatted upon.
The City General Services Office, in coordination with the CBAO, will put up monuments within the government property as the guide for planners of the fencing project in ascertaining the proper boundaries of the property.
It will be recalled that City Legal Officer Melchor Carlos Rabanes urged concerned offices of the local government to take the necessary steps to prevent encroachments into the prime property that is adjacent to the Wright Park, one of the major tourist destinations in the city.
Concio admitted the need for the local government to be aggressive in protecting government properties, especially the lands, to prevent the assets from being squatted upon.
He further said that one of the problems encountered by his office in completing the survey is the absence of a permanent surveyor assigned to the task thus the delay but he is still optimistic that the city government will be able to fence the property the soonest.
The detailed plans and specifications for the fencing project will be forwarded to the Bids and Awards Committee that shall bid out the fencing project.
Concio appealed to the informal settlers to cooperate with the city government in the fencing effort so as not to complicate matters once the fencing starts.
The project is being pursued by the city in coordination with the concerned agencies.
By Dexter A. See