BAGUIO CITY: The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the city government will be working with concerned government agencies and the indigenous peoples in the city on how to clear the zone’s 69-hectare property covered by a Presidential Proclamation of informal settlers to pave the way for the expansion of the Baguio City Economic Zone (BCEZ). PEZA Director-General Charito Plaza said the 33 locators and 53 service companies currently operating in the BCEZ occupy only 28 hectares of its proclaimed property, with the remaining 30 hectares occupied by informal settlers. Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the local government would start the social preparation in the property to confirm the number of residents that would be affected and the appropriate solutions to address the housing problem. He added that the city would also look into reports that there were some claimants of the property who were able to sell parts of the land owned by the zone and covered by a valid presidential issuance.
