Bontoc, Sagada land dispute heats up; tourist site fenced

The popularly visited Blue Soil called Kaman Otek to Bontoc and Kama Utek to Sagada got fenced having earlier pitted issues on boundary conflicts between adjoining municipalities Sagada and Bontoc.  

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- The boundary dispute of the two municipalities of Sagada and Bontoc and their passing of separate  resolutions claiming ownership of a tourist spot here resulted to fencing of  Blue Soil/Kaman Otek allegedly by Bontoc folks.    

This, as Sagada resident Richard Yodong, son of land tax declarant Lizardo Yodong said claimants should be consulted in matters affecting private properties on any development site.

The Yodong’s trace their ancestry from Ankileng, Sagada and Balili, Bontoc. 

Sagada mayor James Pooten Jr. earlier forwarded letters to Balili, Bontoc barangay chairman Alpine Atiwag not to proceed with the fencing of Blue Soil. 

Yodong in an interview said the tourism spot should be for the benefit of all concerned, but private claimants should be consulted.

Atiwag in an interview said Balili is open for negotiation.

Folks from Balili said the fencing of Kaman Otek was meant to protect the site from cows entering the site.

They said it was meant to protect the blue soil from cows and visitors who step on it.

Blue Soil is Kaman Otek to Bontoc and Kama Utek to Barangay Ankileng of Sagada.

Balili lupon elder Bucat Tibong said Kaman Otek covers the lots below the plateau where Blue Soil is located.

Tibong added the fencing means Kaman Otek falls within the domain of Balili.

In an interview, Tibong said Balili folks has been tilling the lands then at Kaman Otek.  

Ankileng elder and Sagada indigenous peoples mandatory representative (IPMR) Jaime Dugao however said Ankileng folks had been planting ‘lakat’(pising or gabi) at Kama Utek.    

Last week, cattle owners from Balili, Alab and Ankileng performed at Kama-utek a ritual called “teb-ang” for the continued supply of water for cattle and rice fields and good health of cattle.

Kama-utek along with nearby Marboro Hills is customarily a grazing land.

A favorite tourist spot frequented by visitors because of its bluish color and mystical story, Blue Soil is located above the Balili-Suyo road and below the equally much visited Marlboro Hills for its view of a sea of clouds.

A guide could earn as much as  P1,600 for a tour of 10 visitors with a trek starting from Batalao Sagada towards Marlboro Hills on to Blue Soil down to the Balili-Suyo road and another separate ride fee towards the main town.

A fee of P50 is collected by the municipality of Sagada for every tourist who enters the town and registers as an official tourist.

Blue Soil was named by Sagada tourist guides who popularized the site in years 2010 till now.   

Tibong narrated it has been a site for the customary  buknit (throwing stone/rock game) then among young boys from Balili and Ankileng where they throw stones/rocks at each other and the winner is the one who shall make the other run home defeated towards their home place.

Earlier this year, the Sangguniang Bayan and Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey in their resolution asked the Office of the  Sangguniang Panlalawigan to deny approval or hold in abeyance the proposed ordinance of Sagada’s legislative body declaring certain sites as natural heritage and ecological tourism park of Sagada including Marlboro Country, Blue Soil and Echo Valley.

In their resolution Bontoc opposed the inclusion of Sagada’s heritage sites particularly Blue Soil claiming this to be Kaman Otek located in barangay Balili, Echo Valley locally known as Kaipitan located in barangay Alab Proper, Marboro Country locally known as Kaman Baneng located in Alab Proper and  Ganga Cave in Alab Oriente.

The Sangguniang Bayan of Sagada on the other hand  in their resolution forwarded that Marlboro Country is located within barangay Antadao claiming this to be a former camotal land turned grazing land and named Marlboro Country due to the presence of a number of horses.

Echo Valley is located within the compound of the Anglican Church of Sagada and Ganga Cave located within the premises of Sitio Doccos and Sitio Baang of Barangay Kilong of Sagada.

The Sagada municipal council declared Blue Soil called Kaman Otek is located within the internal surface of southern Sagada  supported by the cadastral survey of the Department  of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Bontoc local government officials enacted a resolution in 2015  opposing  the cadastral survey of Sagada particularly boundaries of barangays  Suyo, Balugan, Antadao and Tetep-an adjacent four Bontoc barangays- Balili, Alab Proper, Alab Oriente, and Bontoc Ili  where Kaman Otek, Kaman Baneng and Kaipitan are found.