[ Manila Bulletin Online ] September 8, 2008
By DEXTER A. SEE
HLURB tells city officials to stop issuing subdivision permits
BAGUIO CITY — This mountain resort city is not a suitable area for subdivision projects due to the high cost of development and the existence of many geologically hazardous areas as indicated in a study conducted by the Cordillera office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
This was reported by Rebecca Torres, regional director of the Housing, Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) in the Cordillera, who said that her office has already informed the city government of the hazardous situation of the subdivision projects.
The city officials were also asked to stop the issuance of permits for subdivision projects in Baguio.
The city had already attained its carrying capacity and the construction of subdivision projects even in geo-hazard areas would endanger the lives of the residents.
While there are recommended engineering and mitigating measures to prevent the occurrence of landslides or cave-ins in the geo-hazard areas, she said the best thing that subdivision developers could do is not to pursue their projects in the city.
Serious problems may occur during the implementation and when the projects are already occupied, she also said.
HLURB records show that there are 200 subdivision projects in the Baguio and Benguet, but 107 of the projects do not have development permits, and certificate of registration or license to sell.
Ironically, even untitled properties are being converted into purported subdivision projects and sold to buyers in Manila and other parts of the country by unscrupulous individuals.
Buyers of housing units in subdivision projects in Baguio and Benguet must first verify the legality of the sale with the HLURB before they pay the lot which they intend to purchase, she also said.
Before an agricultural land is developed into a subdivision, it must first have a conversion clearance from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
Considering the alarming number of unregistered subdivision and housing projects in the city and the nearby towns of Benguet, the HLURB cited the need for prospective buyers to verify the licenses to sell and certificates of registration of the developers with the housing-land use agency.
This would assure them that their hard-earned money is not wasted in scams perpetrated by unscrupulous individuals.