House committee mediates Abra tribes’ boundary tiff

By Robie Halip

LAGAWE, Ifugao – There is hope for peace between the Maeng tribe of Tubo and the Balatoc, Belwang and Masadiit tribes of Boliney in Abra on their long standing boundary dispute.

Last May 19, the Lower House committee on national cultural communities with the National Committee on Indigenous Peoples and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process facilitated a dialogue between the tribes which may soon settle the conflict.

In the dialogue, the two parties agreed to the suggestion of NCC Chair and Ifugao Rep. Baguilat and NCIP Commissioner Zenaida Pawid to form a technical working group and compile documents on the case for further study.

The TWG will be composed of one representative from each municipality and representatives from the OPAPP, NCC and the NCIP.

The results of the work of the TWG will be discussed in a peace panel that will be composed of key leaders and elders from each municipality to be mediated again by the aforementioned government bodies.

According to Baguilat, this dialogue will be the first of a series that will be conducted on this issue.
He said he hopes that the long standing conflict between the two municipalities will finally be resolved through peaceful means, through the mediation of his committee in partnership with OPAPP and NCIP.

Among those present during the dialogue were Mayor Wilma Gattud of Tubo, Mayor Ronald Balao-as of Boliney, and Sangguniang Panlalawigan members Elmer Gayao Sr. and Rosario Bersamin.

Also in the dialogue were former Mayor Benildo Balao-as Sr., local officials and elders of Tubo and Boliney and Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil of the 2nd District of Pangasinan and Commissioner Zenaida Pawid of NCIP.

This initiative was brought about by a resolution from the Tipon ti Umili Para iti Panangsaluad ti Nakaparsuan, an indigenous peoples organization representing the Maeng tribe in Tubo, Abra, requesting the mediation of the OPAPP, NCC committee of the House of Representatives and the NCIP on the local conflict between Tubo and Boliney through the assistance of the Foundation for Philippine Environment and Philippine Association for Intercultural Development.

The said municipalities had a peace pact (Bodong) in 1977 where they agreed on their respective boundaries and sharing of resources.

Their boundary dispute started when the municipality of Boliney started the survey of boundaries for their CADC application in 1992.

According to the representatives of Tubo, the boundaries stipulated in the Bodong should not be used for the delineation of boundaries of the two municipalities. This dispute was further complicated by the multiple mining applications in the disputed area.

The DENR, OPAPP and the Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Government, Inc. tried to facilitate the boundary dispute settlement between the two municipalities but to no avail.