Officials of two Talisay brgys seek settlement over land dispute

CEBU, Philippines - Officials of Barangays San Roque and Tanke in Talisay City are now working on finally settling their boundary dispute.

Vice Mayor Alan Bucao told Raul Cabañero, president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) during their regular session Tuesday, to settle the boundary dispute between Sitio San Rafael of San Roque and Sitio Kalinao of Tanke.

The position paper of Barangay Tanke submitted to the City Council stated that since the beginning, basic services, such as water supply, medical clinics, financial assistance, food aids, and other services have been provided by Barangay Tanke.

Barangay Tanke also claimed that the 499 registered voters of the two sitios are all registered in the barangay.

Tanke Barangay Captain Perla Cabanes said the dispute started after the fish port was built in the area.

She said as per records of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, barangay certificates and clearances, as well as cash assistance to the residents of the affected sitios, have always been issued by Barangay Tanke.

For his part, San Roque Barangay Captain Elzevier Abraham said that he has all the documents supporting their claim that the area Barangay Tanke is claiming is part of their barangay.

In its position paper, Barangay San Roque noted that the lots claimed by Barangay Tanke are within the territorial jurisdiction of San Roque, based on the 30 applicants for tax declaration.

The paper also stated that there are business applicants who filed their clearances in Barangay San Roque and were approved by the Talisay City government.

According to Abraham, San Roque had a total land area of 232 hectares, 40 hectares of which are being claimed by Tanke.

Cabañero said that he wants the conflict to finally be settled, disclosing that politics is one of the reasons why the two barangays have yet to settle the dispute.

"Dugay na kaayo ni nga panahon. Ako paninguhaon nga buligan unta ta unya ato gyud sila masettle kay kaayuhan man na sa duha, maningkamot ko kay ako man ang gitahasan ani," he said. (FREEMAN)