City officials reiterated Resolution 644, s. 2022 granting amnesty to the applicants for water supply connections of long-time residents inside watersheds in the different parts of the city.
Further, Resolution 178, s. 2023 authorized the Baguio Water District to grant pending applications only as long as they are qualified on all other requirements that have been imposed for the said purpose.
The city council stated in the light of a letter from BWD general manager Engr. Salvador M. Royeca for asking for clarification and Pinget Punong barangay Pablo S. Pawe, Jr. and considering the existing resolution, the council’s committee on public utilities, transportation and traffic legislation in its amended committee report recommended to reiterate those who are named beneficiaries in the resolution be granted water services despite being within the supposed protected areas or watershed reservations.
Resolution 644-2022 grants amnesty to water supply connection applications of long-time residents inside watersheds in the city and authorizes the BWD to grant pending applications as long as they are qualified on all other requirements.
Royeca requested a definitive statement as to BWD’s scope of authority congruent with an ordinance prohibiting the installation of water and electric connections within the watershed, military, and forest reserves.
In response to Royeca’s letter dated Jan. 31, Pawe requested clarifications if the authority granted to BWD in the resolution may be carried out without legal implications.
The council had been approving measures grating amnesty to water and electrical service connections to long-time residents of the city to allow them to avail of such basic services without prejudice of their status in the lands that they currently occupy. – PIO release
April 18, 2024
