After More Than A Century, Baguio City Owns City Hall Lot

October 9, 2020 JUST IN

BAGUIO CITY (October 9, 2020) – After more than a hundred years, Baguio City, chartered in 1909, now owns the lot where the Baguio City hall stands.

The 15,836-square meter City Hall expanse is now covered by Original Certificate of Title (OCT) numbered 2020000098, said Engr. Eugene Buyucan, Baguio City General Services Office chief.

The good news though does not stop there.

Buyucan said the 8,363-square meter City Engineering Office site; and, the 23,186-square meter property at Bayan Park, Aurora Hill are, too, registered at the Registry of Deeds (ROD) of Baguio as OCTs numbered 2020000099 and 2020000097, respectively.

He bared the special patents were released September 24.

Buyucan said there are more properties undergoing special patent applications.

These are three parcels at Burnham Park; two along Upper Session Road; one at Holy Ghost Proper Barangay; one at Mines View Park; one at Pacdal Health Center; and, the property where the Baguio City Police Office now stands.

On the other hand, realties undergoing survey for purposes of registration include the lot where City Building and Architecture Office (CBAO) is located; and, the Campo Filipino Health Center lot.

Buyucan likewise bared other government-owned properties with investment potentials.

These include the building currently leased by the city to the Philippine Nursing Association at Upper Session Road; the Mines View commercial building along Outlook Drive; and, a 5,886-square meter lot along Gibraltar Road.

He likewise named the Crafts and Productivity Center along Session Road Extension; the City Treasurer’s Cottage at Upper Session Road; and, the Commission on Audit (COA) Cottage along Bukaneg Street as areas where certain businesses may be considered.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong tasked the City Planning and Development Office, CBAO and other concerned departments to look into the most beneficial ways these properties may be utilized.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is also not sitting illegally on its compound anymore.

The environment department has granted the NBI a Special Patent to the 3,545 square meter complex that houses its three-storey main building, two-storey old NBI Academy and the new four-storey NBI Academy building.

“The office has been here on that situation for 42 years,” said NBI-Cordillera Regional Director Atty. Hector Eduard M. Geologo, expressing lavish gratitude to the DENR for the award.

As early as 1978, former President Ferdinand Marcos initiated the establishment of the NBI Baguio sub-office at the same area along Session Road Extension corner Governor Pack Road here, narrated Intelligence Officer Bonifacio Salingbay, who himself exerted time to work for the Agency’s application for the Special Patents until its success on April 8, last year.

Lawyer Noel G. Morales, NBI-Cordillera executive officer vowed “our services will all the more be refined and fine-tuned for the benefit of the Cordillerans and the whole Filipino people.”

Several other government agencies like the Civil Service Commission, National Police Commission and other national government agencies still sitting on government lots not named after them have been encouraged by the “success of the NBI’s Special Patent” and have also pursued their applications.

Artemio A. Dumlao