Baguio moratorium on tree-cutting, construction

The effect of the moratorium would be prospective. It does not count those that were already started.

For the environment The moratorium pushed by Baguio mayor Benjamin Magalong is expected to address the city’s environmental issues. ALDWIN QUITASOL

BAGUIO CITY — City executives began preparations on the ground for the implementation of an executive order imposing a moratorium on the construction of commercial buildings and tree-cutting in the country’s summer capital.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who pushed for the moratorium in view of the environmental issues being faced by the city, said he expects the local government to formulate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to achieve the objectives of the moratorium.

According to him, the President approved the proposal in principle and the documentary requirements for the moratorium order are now being prepared by the Department of the Interior and Local Government under Secretary Eduardo Año.

City Administrator Bonifacio de la Peña said, however, that there is a need to convene all the concerned offices and study on the possible IRR content as concerns have started to crop up in relation to the moratorium.

One is that the City Buildings and Architecture Office, which conducts processing of permits for constructions, should continue to accept and process applications for said permits while the order is not yet issued. But upon issuance of the moratorium, no new applications will be accepted.

“The effect of the moratorium would be prospective. It does not count those that were already started,” Assistant City Legal Officer Melchor Carlos Rabanes explained.

Magalong added that it was proposed to cover the construction of commercial buildings and cutting of trees for one year and to include a funding component to enable the city to implement rehabilitative programs particularly on the upgrading and expansion of its sewerage treatment system.