March 6, 2020

For: HONORABLE FRED L. BAGBAGEN

Chairman, Committee on Urban Planning, Lands and Housing

HONORABLE BETTY LOURDES F. TABANDA

Committee on Laws, Human Rights, and Justice
And Committee Member on Urban Planning, Lands and Housing

From: Informal Settler Families of Government Center Road Military Cut-Off,

Baguio City

RE: A call for help, guidance and support from Baguio City Local Government
Authorities to negotiate on behalf of the Informal settler families of
Government Center Road to the Government Service Insurance System
(GSIS) for a reasonable and affordable low cost land purchase settlement
agreement.

Dear Honorable Councilors,

We, the underprivileged families whose signatures appear below and together with our
extended family members would like to seek your kind assistance and intervention on
a matter of acquiring from GSIS by way of reasonable and affordable low cost land
purchase the areas that we developed more than fifty (50) years ago where our
“barong-barong” or small houses were built and have continuously improved. Over
the years, the areas evolved to a full-blown peaceful community where our families
grow with dignity, where social services and livelihood were eventually available,
where we contribute in making our environment safe, where we live resiliently, where
we embrace our inclusive society, and where we as responsible citizens of Baguio
City provided our families and extended families a decent living.
We do not want to add to the many variable problems of our city and most specially
on its housing problems, that is why we decided to take part in unburdening our city
government for possible greater problems that may arise regarding our land and
housing status so we are earnestly asking your help to be our mediator to GSIS for our
intention of purchasing in a very affordable low cost and fair market value of the land
areas where our homes were built thereby proceeding into an agreement.

We have exerted our best efforts to defend ourselves as claimants of the said land
areas and that our homes are outside the tie line being claimed for correction of the
Technical Description in the Titled Certificate of GSIS which is from 349.58 m to
394.58 m. We also communicated with Atty. Joseph Philip Andres, GSIS Manila VP-
Business Development and Accounts Recovery Office in the year 2009 for possible

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resolution of the problems as this will affect and cause alterations too in the areas of
other agencies surrounding the properties.

But the fact remains that the land area dispute will continue to be a dispute without
considering the human needs and rights of the underprivileged people. We are getting
old and we do not want to wait decades for legal titles that might never come and
leave our children hopeless and with fear of eviction from the only home they have
known. The resolution of conflict over contested land can truly last decades and in this
case we preferred to humbly beg for a just and equitable land acquisition to secure the
title of our land area so we can breathe well and enjoy our human rights and the rights
of our children not to be displaced in our community. We will continue to be
functional citizens and community of our local government and we believe that our
rights to the land areas where we are presently occupants shall be supported and
protected by our Honorable Mayor Benjamin Magalong and our concerned
Honorable Councilors.

Attached herewith is the graphic presentation of the land areas that we are talking
about.

Our families are praying for the positive outcome of this action and we would like to
wholeheartedly thank your good offices for the precious time and effort that you will
extend in order to have a successful agreement with the GSIS.

God bless your governance and more power. Best warm regards!!!

Respectfully yours,

Ernesto Gaon Ronillo Flores

Alexander Parel Nicanor/Leticia Dispo

Dina Marques Ana Bistre

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Michael Tabanda Abraham De Castro

Thelma Rivera William Inyoh

Alex Villanueva Marlon Mirador

Frederick Gaon Rhodora Conde

Neri Geronimo George De Vera

Raymund Montes Benita Resuello

Traffic Management Office Representative