The Baguio City Council, last Monday, discussed the request of Mayor Benjamin Magalong for the execution of authority to exeute a Deed of Absolute Sale for the parcels of land located at Topinao, Tuba, Benguet.
The two adjacent parcels of land, with TCT Nos. 016-2022000726 in the name of William Tan and Hazel Dominique Tan and 016-2022000727 in the name of William Tan, have a combined area of 63,585 square meters. The properties are being sold to the city government for P95,377,000.00.
In his letter to the city council, Magalong said the property acquisition is an identified priority project for the city. Its source of funding has been appropriated under the Annual Investment Plan for Year 2020 through Ordinance 42-2020 which was approved by the city council in 2020.
The properties are accessible through Santa Lucia Gate 4 and through Asin Road.
City Assessor Almaya Addawe disclosed that the properties to be bought will be utilized for land banking.
According to Oxford Languages Dictionary, land banking is “the practice of buying land as an investment, holding it for future use and making no specific plans for its development.”
The properties had sloped terrain. According to Addawe, a geohazard study had been conducted in the area. The study indicated that engineering interventions should be made to avoid the possible occurrence of landslides.
The city council, however, decided to defer its action on the request of the chief executive for the execution of the said Absolute Deed of Sale pending another discussion regarding the matter with the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO).
The discussion with the CPDO was set on May 23, 2022.
Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda said she would like to find out from the CPDO whether the purchase of the said properties is included in the city’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan which is currently undergoing a revamp.
Tabanda also said there is a need to further discuss the intended purpose of the properties in question.
Meanwhile, Councilor Michael Lawana stated the city government should study the matter further to find out whether purchasing the said properties is considered a priority project. He pointed out that the Annual Investment Plan for 2020 was crafted before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Now that the city coffer is being exhausted for pandemic response, purchasing these properties for land banking may not be a priority project,” Lawana said. **Jordan G. Habbiling
