UP feared to lose millions of pesos if squatter woes not resolved

MANILA, Philippines – State auditors fear that the University of the Philippines would lose millions of pesos if it fails to take action against squatters occupying 79 hectares of its Diliman and Cebu campuses.

In a report, the Commission on Audit said the UP administration has not taken adequate measures to protect 511.3 hectares intended for educational purposes in the two campuses.

“Thus the campus land areas are at risk of being lost, and affecting the security of its campuses,” read the report.

The COA said in UP Diliman, squatters occupy 66 hectares of the 493-hectare area.

In UP Visayas, squatters occupy 13 hectares of the 18.3-hectare campus, the report added.

The COA said in UP Diliman, the implementation of major projects was “impeded” because squatters have taken over land for educational and commercial development on campus.

In UP Visayas, rich squatters have put up commercial buildings and had rented them out, the report added.

State auditors recognized the effort of UP Diliman’s Office of Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs to survey the land occupied by squatters and have them guarded to prevent the entry of more squatters.

An anti-squatting task force has demolished 249 illegal structures from January to December last year.

However, UP spent at least P1.6 million in removing the squatters, according to the 2006 UP budget.

The UP police have an annual budget of the P18.55 million, the report said.

State auditors said UP Diliman cannot update the 1992 census because squatters refuse to sign the undertaking form.

The UP Visayas administration intends to take legal action against the squatters after making a complete profiling of those on campus, the report added.

The UP administration must pursue all efforts to come up with a comprehensive census data to detect and prevent further entry of squatters in its two campuses and file a case against them in court, state auditors said.