Capitol hands off on rift between Lahug, Apas

A BOUNDARY dispute between Barangays Lahug and Apas reached the attention of Gov. Gwen Garcia yesterday after Lahug Barangay Captain Jovito Taborada wrote her about it.

But Capitol said it will not interfere in the issue because it is outside the Province’s jurisdiction.

The dispute worsened after Lahug padlocked a day-care center run by Apas.

In his letter, Taborada said they are not against the day-care program or that there is politics behind the issue. He said they only want to make sure everybody’s rights are protected.

“Di mi manghilabot ana nga butang, ila unta na sulbaron kay parehas ra baya ta nga sugbuanon (We won’t interfere. As fellow Cebuanos, they should resolve this matter),” said Provincial Attorney Marino Martinquilla.

Taborada asked Capitol to recall the permission given to barangay Apas’ home-based program since Capitol owns the property where the school is located.

Garcia was out of town yesterday.

Taborada said Barangay Apas committed violations against the provision on supervised neighborhood play (SNP) of the Early Childhood Care and Development Act.

Taborada wanted Apas to have a neighborhood play program with a maximum of 10 enrollees only.

And this must conducted in its jurisdiction. Apas’ SNP program is conducted within Lahug’s jurisdiction.

Based on SNP implementing guidelines, Taborada said, children enrolled in the program should not be more than 10. More than that number the program falls within the category of a day care center.

He said Apas’ SNP program has 50 to 60 enrollees, based on Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman’s June 8, 2012 letter-request to the governor.

Taborada said Apas’ day care center is located beside St. Francis Day Care Center, which is maintained and operated by Barangay Lahug.

“Clearly it violates its own policy and it duplicates the presence of an already established day care center,” Taborada’s letter read.

The former site of Cebu Hope Center, which is the center of the dispute between the two barangays, is located along M.J. Cuenco Ave. in Banilad. The place was once the home of sexually abused children.

Hope transferred to its present home in Barangay Talamban last Aug. 10, 2007, after Capitol planned to use the property.

After Hope left, Ayuman asked Garcia if they can use the property for their day care center. Garcia granted the request.

“It’s better that the property be used for the benefit of the children instead of being idle,” said Martinquilla.