Saturday, November 11, 2006 Dialogue sought to solve Naswak controversy
TO FINALLY put an end to the issue on what locality really has the jurisdiction over the controversial Naswak sub-village, Benguet Vice Governor Crescencio Pacalso is pushing for the conduct of a consultation among the residents there and concerned local government units (LGUs) to solve the problem.
"I think there is a need (for Naswak, Bokod and Kayapa residents) to meet and come up with an agreement to settle the issue," Pacalso said.
The Provincial Board (PB) and Bokod Mayor Raymuno Celino have a standing disagreement over Naswak.
While Celino claimed that the area does not fall within the territorial jurisdiction of the province, the PB says otherwise.
Pacalso said Naswak residents should now decide on whether they want to be under the jurisdiction of the province or Nueva Vizcaya.
Celino, in earlier interviews, said that based on the cadastral map of Bokod, Naswak does not fall within the town, but Pacalso refuted this, saying there is no established boundary between Benguet and Nueva Vizcaya that will show where Naswak really falls.
Pacalso said a dialogue between the residents and officials of the concerned LGUs would be the best move to settle the case.
The Naswak controversy started when Celino in June last year ordered the pullout of the three teachers assigned to the elementary school here.
Residents here sought the assistance of the PB, which also asked the Department of Education (DepEd) to act on the problem in order not to jeopardize the schooling of the pupils.
The school is administered by the DepEd-Benguet Division. (JC)
