Wednesday, October 18, 2006 Provincial Boards set status quo on Dumarao-Lemery dispute By Lory Ann B. Bilbao
FOR the meantime, the dispute over 2,000 hectares of land or five villages in Lemery claimed by Dumarao, Capiz as theirs was declared under status quo.
As agreed upon by the Provincial Boards of Iloilo and Capiz, the land will remain under the sovereignty of Lemery, Iloilo where it belongs at present. The people there will also avail of the basic services from the local government of Lemery.
"The five villages are accessible to Lemery than to Dumarao."
In terms of real property taxes, those who have their lands titled under Dumarao, Capiz shall continue to pay to Dumarao until after it is determined on who has jurisdiction over the lands.
This was agreed upon by the two PBs during a meeting in Capiz on October 11 this year.
Board Members Domingo B. Oso Jr. and Niel Tupas Jr. attended the meeting and represented the Iloilo Provincial Government.
In the same meeting, technical groups were created in each municipality.
They will be led by the two mayors of the municipalities - Dumarao and Lemery - disputing over jurisdiction of the area.
Oso said the two groups must gather documentary evidence supporting their claim of sovereignty over the lands.
After 60 days from October 11, the two groups shall present during a joint meeting of the two PBs their evidence and a decision on the dispute would then be handed down.
Dumarao said Oso is armed with a Bureau of Lands proclamation geared by Presidential Decree 463 of then President Diosdado Macapagal showing that the lands were under Dumarao.
Oso said the Lemery Municipal Government, on the other hand, has another survey showing otherwise.
Some 1,000-2,000 hectares of land that are the subject of the dispute are rich with mineral resources.
Oso said Dumarao, Capiz was open to mining concessions while the Iloilo Provincial Board is not considering a resolution that closes the doors to mining propositions.
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