TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Cordillera Administrative Region (DENR-CAR), together with the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Tabuk, conducted an information dissemination to present the data of the 2019 master list of land area on February 28, 2024, at the SP Session Hall.
Engr. Carole Lachica from the DENR-CAR Regional Office presented a map and showed the political boundary survey of Tabuk, Kalinga, under CAD 1180-D approved on December 28, 2005, which has a total land area of 77,447.25 hectares.
She further presented a map with their data as of December 2019, showing that there were contested land claims by other municipalities within the boundary of the city.
From the contested land areas involving the municipalities of Pinukpuk, Balbalan, Pasil, Rizal, and Tanudan, Kalinga and Paracelis, Mt. Province, Engr. Lachica presented a total land area of 68,9991.3611 hectares, which is uncontested from the 77,447.25 hectares.
During the information drive, it was discussed that the uncontested land area of each political unit will be the basis of the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) national tax allocation in the succeeding years.
CENR Officer Imelda Casiwan said the city of Tabuk, along with other municipalities involved in boundary disputes, should initiate amicable settlements to resolve their political boundaries.
It was explained that the process of resolving the political boundaries will be in accordance with the Local Government Code of the Philippines.
The DENR is willing to help and assist in the relocation survey of the municipalities and cities involving political disputes to delineate their actual boundaries.
During the information drive, Acting Vice Mayor Lucretina Sarol and Councilor Ivan Yannick Bagayao showed their support for the resolution of the actual boundaries of the city.
The purpose of the information drive by the DENR-CAR is to present the maps to help address political boundary disputes as early as possible that might affect the political units’ national tax allocation (NTA) in the future.
Present during the information dissemination were Acting Mayor Dick Bal-o’s representative Francisco Gamatero, CLGOO Helen Lacuesta, City Assessor Arnold Layugan, City Planning Office Assistant Head Marinelle Agustin, Assistant Budget Head Yeahsylyn Sangwin, Assistant CENRO Head George Padalla, and City Legal Assistant Head Guillermo Lawagan, Jr., with representatives from the City Treasury and SP members. By Ian Addatu
