BY: ANGELICA ARQUERO

Councilor Isabelo “Popo” Cosalan is pushing for a proposed measure to help Baguio City residents secure land titles for their properties. The issue was recently discussed in a Kapihan sa Barangay forum.

Martina Oyama, a resident of Barangay Kias, shared that her family built their home in the 1960s, but they still do not have a title for the land they live on.

“There are still worries, especially for those without a tax declaration, that we might be evicted,” she said.

Another resident, Manuel Cabigan, echoed the same concern, saying that many in their barangay have no legal ownership of their land.

“In Kias, there’s no clear land ownership. We are all squatters here,” he said.

Councilor Cosalan acknowledged the issue and assured residents that the city government is working on possible solutions.

“We want to hear from the people about their concerns because we need to bring the government closer to them,” he said.

According to him, revisions to existing laws or amendments to land proclamations could help address the issue.

“In Congress, we can introduce revisions to existing laws. A proclamation can also be amended or repealed through new legislation,” he explained.

The city government is committed to resolving land ownership issues in Baguio and ensuring the welfare of affected residents.