THREE towns in Benguet province finally put an end to a 70-year-old boundary dispute.
Vice Governor Johnny Waguis said the municipalities of Bakun, Kibungan and Kapangan decided to end their boundary disputes.
The disputed area will be divided equally by the three towns according to the memorandum of agreement signed by officials.
Signing of the settlement agreement on the boundary dispute by and between municipalities of Bakun, Kapangan, and Kibungan were conducted last week at Palina in Kibungan.
Bakun Mayor Billy Raymundo, Kapangan Mayor Manny Fermin and Kibungan Mayor Cesar Molitas led the signing of the MOA, witnessed by Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas, Benguet Board Members and local officials and elders.
The consultation for the settlement dispute started November 2019, initiated by the provincial board.
Kapangan and Kibungan have a contested area of 1,663 hectares while Bakun and Kibungan have 1,056 hectares boundary dispute.
The MOA between the three towns will continue even after the expiration of the terms of the local officials.
The existing tax declarations or land titles over lands located within the disputed area will be corrected while real property taxes should be paid in the municipality where the properties are presently registered.
Aside from the three towns, boundary row between the towns of Bokod and Itogon were also settled. Out of the 15,000 disputed area, both towns agreed to settle 12,000 hectares.
The remaining 3,000 hectares disputed area will be discussed later.
"With this settlement, the parties and the provincial government can now demand for the release of the corresponding Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) which has long have been withheld due to the disputes," Waguis added.
Waguis, who is the Provincial Board's committee chair on boundary dispute, said their next objective is to discuss with the local government units of Atok, Kapangan and Tublay their boundary disputes.
Copies of the agreement will be forwarded to Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Budget and Management for their appropriate action.
