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Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Editorials: Barangay boundary dispute
There are good reasons the Local Government Code insists that boundary disputes be settled amicably and has empowered sanggunians or local legislative councils to settle these.
Reason, however, often gets lost in the political dynamics of local government units, muddling the implementation of some provisions of the Code.
Which is what is happening in the boundary dispute between barangays Lahug and Apas that Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña wants to politicize.
For that is what one sees in his announcement to award plum areas—as if he owned these places—to Apas and Lahug’s other neighboring barangays obviously because Lahug Barangay Captain Mary Ann delos Santos is not politically aligned with him.
Of course, the “awarding” can only be done if the City Council, whose members are all with the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan, succumbs to the mayor’s push.
Besides, the Code itself provides a way out for delos Santos, which is to elevate whatever would be the Council’s decision to court.
Still, the sight is pitiful: the mayor failing to transcend personal and political issues in a dispute that should be resolved objectively without pettiness and emotionalism.
Rallyists’ quarrel
The Labor Day protest yesterday had an unexpected twist: rallyists quarreling over the few square meters of space in front of the Gaisano Metro in Colon.
Which just shows that violence may still erupt during rallies despite Cebu City Hall’s decision to do away with the “no rally, no permit” policy.
It’s good that cooler heads averted a full-blown clash between groups aligned with Bayan and Sanlakas when they exchanged shouts at the Metro in the morning.
But that scene not only proves labor factional setup but also gives credence to government’s insistence to regulate the holding of protest actions.
CHEERS. . .
…to Lumad Basakanon for taking the grand prize in this year’s Aliwan Festival, a competition that has contingents showcase the major festivals from all over the country.
No mean feat for a group that fell out of the top five in the Sinulog grand parade because of a rule violation and which almost failed to make it to the venue in Pasay City because of financial problems.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 2, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
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