Bauko, Sabangan to settle land dispute

By Wabilyn M. Lomong-oy 

SABANGAN, Mountain Province – Provincial and local officials are setting a meeting to resolve the boundary dispute of this town and adjacent Bauko.

This, after there was no settlement in second meeting held Feb. 13 here at Sitio Libo.     

The first meeting was held Jan. 12 wherein municipal mayors from both municipalities were present. Rep. Maximo Dalog was invited as mediator/facilitator who explained procedure.

To understand present situation regarding the problem, engineer Benjamin Ventura identified the affected areas.

For Bauko affected areas include Maba-ay, Monamon Norte and Leseb while Sabangan had Namatec and Napua. 

Ventura said the dispute came about after the municipality of Bauko allegedly encroached on territory of Sabangan specifically at barangay Napua and Namatec with an area of around 519 hectares.

Another disputed area was from barangay Data to Pingad which Bauko allegedly encroached upon covering 977 hectares. 

It was also learned that Bauko cadastral survey returns were earlier submitted and subsequently approved after finding that everything was in order while Sabangan cadastral survey returns were submitted later though it was surveyed earlier.

Since there was no agreement made on the first meeting conducted, both parties suggested and agreed to invite elders who knowledgeable on history of disputed area.

The elders were present during the second meeting conducted this year at Libo but could not arrive to a consensus so they agreed to return back the responsibility to elected municipal officials in settlement of the dispute.

Dalog urged cooperation of both parties in settlement of the boundary dispute. He urged both parties to resolve the problem now as not to let the future generation inherit the problem.

The congressman said he was hoping the boundary dispute would be resolved this March.