ANGELES CITY -- A village chief in this city has bared plans to recover some portions of his barangay, which were lost because of what he described as "bad politics or political patronage" during the term of previous city and barangay officials.
Balibago chairman Rodelio Mamac, during a media forum hosted by the Pampanga Press Club at the Widus Hotel and Casino on Wednesday, cited several including the Bayanihan Park, which also covers parts of SM City Clark.
Mamac said that the giant mall originally belongs to the territorial jurisdiction of Barangay Balibago.
SM tenants' business permits, workers clearances, and other documents were secured from Barangay Balibago when the supermall started operating in May 12, 2009, according to the barangay chairman.
SM City Clark was later declared part of Barangay Malabanias, it was learned.
Mamac also cited a plush subdivision and some residential areas which are now part of Barangay Pulung Maragul.
The barangay official opined that previous city officials deliberately cut off parts of Balibago to prevent it from converting into a separate town of Pampanga.
The Local Government Code provides that the territory of a barangay cannot be altered sans a city ordinance and plebiscite, Mamac said.
When asked about the controversial P7-billion Capilion mixed used facility project, which is also part of Barangay Malabanias, Mamac told newsmen that he stands for what is legal and lawful.
“Kung sinsasabi ng batas na pwedeng itayo ang Capilion, dun tayo at walang pwedeng humarang sa project. Kung hindi naman ito papayagan ng batas ay hindi rin natin ito sasang-ayunan,” Mamac said.
The barangay leader disclosed that he will ask the Clark Development Corporation to furnish the local government unit a copy of the commercial facility’s master development plan.
“Para malaman natin kung ano talaga ang magiging epekto ng proyekto sa aming barangay at aming mga constituents,” Mamac said.
He also cited the advantages of the project which include employment, estimated initially at 18,000, that could be generated by Capilion’s operation.
Mamac on the other hand mentioned the project’s social costs on traffic congestion, solid waste generation, and others.
Balibago has a land area of 160 hectares with a total population of 50,734 and 9,250 households.
The village is host to hotels, nightclubs, casinos, restaurants, travel agencies, transport centers, and others.