LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, July 30 (PIA)– Two long running inter-municipal boundary disputes were amicably settled through the intervention of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), and attributed to political will and harmonious relationship of local officials and the indigenous cultural practice of ‘tongtongan’.
The two disputed boundaries were between the towns of Bakun and Kibungan involving 1,506.17 hectares and between the towns of Kapangan and Kibungan covering 1,663.26 hectares.
The boundary disputes started in the 1950s and dragged on for years, according to Vice Governor Johnny Waguis, who led the SP in initiating the boundary dispute resolution as part of their mandate.
With the unresolved boundary dispute that took decades, many opportunities were lost from the Internal Revenue Allocation (IRA) that could have been collected and earmarked for projects and other developments starting from the barangays affected, to the municipality up to the provincial level, he explained.
Local officials in both disputed areas agreed to amicably settle but with an equal share or “hating kapatid,” for each, Waguis said. Settlement agreements were arrived at separately for both disputed areas and adopted by the provincial board last July 20, 2020.
Fitting rites on the signing of settlement agreements were earlier held in Palina, Kibungan on July 17, 2020 among concerned municipal officials witnessed by elders in the community.
It was put on hold for quite sometime due to the COVID-19 health crisis.
Officials of Kibungan led by Mayor Cesar Molitas signed the settlement agreement with Bakun led by Mayor Bill Raymundo while Kapangan led by Mayor Manny Fermin also forged the settlement agreement with Kibungan officials again led by Molitas.
On the case between Kibungan and Bakun, apart from the equal sharing agreement there were some issues considered. For lot owners, they can still pay their tax dues where they used to pay but options are open should they want to transfer to the proper area, Waguis said. But applicants for new tax declaration will now apply the settled boundary.
Also incorporated in the agreement are the existing watersheds that now cover both towns but will still be maintained and respected. For any change or amendment of its management or use, it will be subjected to customary practice employing the so called tongtongan.
For both settlement agreements, it stated that these are binding between parties and shall continue to have legal force and effect even after the expiration of the terms of the municipal officials. As stated in both agreements, it shall be absolute and immutable.
Governor Melchor Diclas congratulated the mayors of the three involved towns together with their local officials and the SP for their initiative and commitment in solving the long running boundary disputes. He acknowledged that boundary dispute resolution is one difficult concern to settle.
Until these are settled, IRA for both areas affected will not be released, he added.
The incumbent provincial board came into the picture on November 11, 2019 when it initiated a consultation for the officials of the three municipalities to settle the problem. Series of meetings ensued were held among the municipal officials and their constituents.
Raymundo claimed the elders in their area consented on the tongtongan which were undertaken among parties involved.
Arriving at a consensus, the participation of the elders was the ultimate proof in the settlement of the case, Molitas added.
On February 26, 2020, the provincial board again called for a meeting and the parties agreed to settle once and for all the said areas in dispute. The formal forging of settlement was put on hold for sometime due to the COVID-19 health crisis.
Tongtongan or inayan, an indigenous practice and the culture of cooperation or the so called, binnadang played a vital role in pursuit of the endeavor, “Through binnadang, this is the most substantial undertaking among neighboring municipalities which took place ever,” Fermin said.
Waguis said the first boundary conflict settled under their term was between the municipality of Bokod and Itogon involving 15,000 hectares. In the settlement, 12,000 hectares went to Bokod with Itogon giving its consent without any opposition.
The priorities for now include inter-municipality boundary conflicts settlements as the SP will try to resolve boundary disputes between Atok and Kapangan, Tublay and Kapangan and Atok and Tublay, Waguis said. **JDP/SCA-PIA-CAR, Benguet
