Limlingan: Minalin versus San Simon

Thursday, February 9, 2012

IT LOOKS like there’s a tug-of-war between two municipalities over their respective boundaries -- Minalin versus San Simon are two contenders in the so-called game.

Last Monday, hundreds of residents of Barangay Sto. Domingo in Minalin town staged their protest against a private memorial park and a crematorium that is being constructed along the MacArthur Highway in the said barangay.

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Villagers have started a signature campaign denouncing the More Than Land Corporation’s (the developer) act of defiance against the advice of the local government of Minalin that they (More Than Land) should get necessary permits before they can construct their development project.

The town of Minalin informed the said developer that the land in question forms part of the municipality, particularly that of Barangay Sto. Domingo.

It seemed that the More Than Land Corporation has disregarded the authority of the said municipality when they got their permits before the Municipality of San Simon. It’s a slap against the latter’s face, as they say.

Despite Minalin’s advice and a closure warning, More Than Land Corporation did not heed. Besides, said corporation is violating certain environmental laws prohibiting the construction of a memorial park within 50 meters of any body of water.

Vice Mayor Edgar Yambao is so concerned for his town when the said corporation defied Minalin town’s call. He would not take this sitting down. In fact, he has written the Provincial Board, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on the matter. He said the company wouldn’t want to recognize the authority of municipal officials.

Knowing his stance, he would fight to finish, for the sake of his constituents.

Mayor Katoy Naguit, for his part, said they will file a case in court against the More Than Land Corporation for its vivid defiance and non-recognition of the municipality’s jurisdiction and authority.

Another oppositor to the ongoing construction of the said memorial park is veteran public servant, former Liga ng mga Barangay Pampanga Federation President and now Minalin Councilor, Cesar Magat. His love for his town can never be equaled, the reason why he would want the rectification of the corporation’s act to protect the sanctity of the boundaries of Minalin.

As an ex-officio Board Member during his stint at the Provincial Board, he was in fact a witness in 2007 when the boundary dispute between the towns of Minalin and San Simon was tackled and resolved in favor of his town.

At that said year, San Simon claimed that it had jurisdiction over barangay Sto. Domingo and other neighboring barangays in the said area. It contested its claim, submitting the resolution of the dispute to the Pampanga Provincial Board, which has jurisdiction over the matter as provided for under the provisions of Republic Act 7160 on the settlement of boundary disputes.

It was mutually agreed upon then that the two towns shall leave the matter to the Provincial Board and let the said body to do its job and mandate. In addition, both parties, after submitting their case before the august body, shall respect whatever the decision might be without the benefit of an appeal or any move for reconsideration of the losing party. Eventually, the Provincial Board sought the technical expertise and authority of the DENR in the determination and re-location of boundaries.

As per re-location of boundaries, the DENR has ruled out that the contested areas belong to Minalin. The Provincial Board then, basing on the technical expertise of the DENR, has decided on the matter in favor of Minalin. Hence, the boundary dispute was resolved.

After a couple of years comes now the defiance of the More Than Land Corporation in recognizing the jurisdiction and authority of Minalin over the property they are presently developing.

By the way, villagers residing in the contested barangays recognize Minalin as their town. They are beneficiaries of the municipality’s public services. They vote during elections for Minalin officials. They submit themselves to the jurisdiction and authority of the said town. In short, they are subjects and residents of this town called the “egg basket of Pampanga.”

I find it proper and fitting that Minalin town should act on this to rectify all wrongs that concern the assailed acts of the memorial park developer.

Streamers now hang near the development site of the proposed memorial park denouncing the non-recognition of More Than Land Corporation to the jurisdiction and authority of the Municipality of Minalin over the property they are developing.