CITY GOV’T TO CONDUCT CLEARING OPERATIONS

The Office of the City engineer will conduct clearing operations along the Riverbanks of Brgy. New Banicain particularly in the areas of Perimeter, Gordon Street, and Rizal Avenue.

Starting on April 17, illegal structures erected along the Riverbanks will be cleared.. Illegal settlers in the area will likewise be relocated.

Through the initiative of Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr., Iram, New Cabalan has been earmarked as a viable relocation site for the affected residents. The area can provide two hundred (200) square meters per lot for some 35 settlers.

Meanwhile, even before the scheduled clearing operations, the City Government has already been issuing Notices of Demolition to the illegal settlers since 2007. Aside from notices, the city government has also reminded the residents that the structures they have built in the area violate the National Building Code or Presidential Decree 1096.

According to Section 301 of the Decree, “No person, firm or corporation, including any agency or instrumentality of the government shall erect, construct, alter, repair, move, convert or demolish any building without first obtaining a building permit therefore from the Building Official in the place where the subject building is located or the building work is to be done.”

In the joint inspection of the Office of the City Engineer, City Health Office, City Planning and Development Office and other city departments, it was found out that the illegal structures along the said areas do not have Building Permits. It was also found out that these structures are extremely dangerous for residents.

Section 215 of PD1096 also states “When any building structure is found or declared to be dangerous or ruinous, the Building Official shall order its repair, vacation or demolition depending upon the degree of danger to life, health or safety.

City Social welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) likewise offered its “Balik-Probinsiya Program” to the affected residents.

The City government plans to develop the Riverbanks of New Banicain into a Boardwalk.
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