BAGUIO CITY – The city will also start clearing easements of rivers and tributaries of illegal structures and encroachments as part of the drive to revitalize its water resources.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong Sept. 17 directed the City Buildings and Architecture Office, City Environment and Parks Management Office and the City Engineering Office to start the process of removing illegal structures to start at Camp 7.
City Engr. Edgar Victorio Olpindo and CEPMO Asst. Head Rhenan Diwas said initial notices had been issued to owners of structures found to have encroached on waterways in Camp 7 and Brookside barangays based on inspections conducted in the areas upon earlier directives from the city mayor.
The mayor tasked the offices to coordinate with the punong barangays for the occupants to voluntarily vacate the premises specifically at Camp 7 which he said had become unsightly and unsanitary.
A champion team on the protection of rivers, waterways and sewer lines was formed headed by Engr. Stephen Capuyan of the CBAO and composed of personnel from the three offices.
Diwas said the team will systematize the inspections and the eviction procedures and will employ due process.
The campaign will cover all rivers and their tributaries particularly Sagudin-Balili, Galiano, Bued, and Ambalanga rivers.
He said the campaign is part of the campaign to revitalize the environment anchored on regreening activities and protection of the waterways.
“We aim to revitalize our rivers by sustaining not only the clean-up but also the clearing them of encroachments that contribute to their pollution,” Diwas said.
He said the easements have to be free of incursions as these will later be used in the expansion and upgrading of its sewerlines.
Apart from Camp 7 and Brookside, target barangays of the clearing will be Gibraltar, Trancoville and others traversed by the rivers and their tributaries where encroachments are rampant./Aileen P. Refuerzo
