Boundary rows still plague Benguet towns

Saturday, February 4, 2012

LOCAL boundaries continue to place neighboring towns at odds with each other. This is true for the municipalities of Kibungan and Sugpon, Ilocos Sur.

Kibungan, headed by Mayor Benito Siadto, with its intent to maintain camaraderie with its neighbor town, is willing to cede portions within the disputed area to Sugpon.

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Kibungan is willing to settle the problem amicably.

Both parties scheduled a site validation on Nov. 28–29, 2011 for an ocular inspection. However, it was rescheduled to December 13–14, 2011, because of the series of activities Kibungan lined up last November.

The ocular inspection was postponed again since officials of Sugpon were not available on the rescheduled date.

As the year turned to 2012, the municipality of Kibungan reiterated the scheduling of the site validation to Sugpon. They sent a resolution proposing an inspection on January 20.

However, while the resolution was in transit, Kibungan received Sugpon’s resolution terminating the amicable settlement and to proceed with a formal hearing.

This forced the council of Kibungan to seek for mediation from both the provinces of Ilocos Sur and Benguet for them to conduct a joint site validation on the disputed areas.

Kibungan town is also hoping the provincial boards of these two provinces could determine possible adjustments which will be favorable to both parties which might lead to amicable settlement.

“We will advise them to settle amicably but if they refuse, then we will render our decision,” said Benguet Vice Governor Crescencio Pacalso.