BY: JOSE ROBERT INVENTOR

A forum was held in Baguio City to address concerns related to building permits and zoning ordinances, particularly the difficulties some residents face in acquiring land titles.

Many residents have been waiting for years to secure land titles but still hold only tax declarations, including Jonalyn, a resident of Barangay Loakan Apugan.

“Many issues were raised that people were not aware of, especially concerning land ownership. We really don’t know much about this because we were young when these issues started,” she said.

The forum, attended by city officials and urban planners, focused on zoning issues and the implications of Presidential Proclamation 414, which affects land ownership in certain areas.

Elias Awanan, assistant city planner of Baguio’s City Planning, Development, and Sustainability Office, emphasized the importance of zoning ordinances in urban planning.

“The city government’s role is to implement the zoning ordinance, which designates permitted land uses within district boundaries,” Awanan explained.

Councilor Isabelo “Poppo” Cosalan Jr. highlighted the need to balance land use among different sectors while ensuring compliance with existing laws.

“We make sure all sectors have proper land allotments, not just in terms of area but also strategic planning,” he said.

City officials are also pushing for amendments to the city’s charter to preserve Baguio’s forest reserves while allowing regulated land development.

Another open forum will be scheduled to further discuss land-related issues and help finalize the city’s new Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP).