Makati slams Taguig’s closure of sports facility

MANILA, Philippines — The city government of Makati City yesterday criticized Taguig’s “sudden” closure of the Makati Aqua Sports Arena (MASA), which left 4,400 students affected.

The sports facility is located in Barangay West Rembo, an enlisted men’s barrio or “embo” barangay that is now under the jurisdiction of Taguig.

According to the city government, the closure of the facility would delay the schedule of 15 Makati schools that were supposed to have swimming lessons in March and April.

It added that students from the University of Makati have also been affected by the abrupt closure.

“Sorry to my young #ProudMakatizens. Unfortunately, MASA was also closed,” Mayor Abby Binay wrote in a Facebook post.

Binay also condemned the continued efforts of Taguig to claim Makati’s private properties, noting that those were not covered by the Supreme Court decision when it settled the territorial dispute between the two cities.

In 2021 and 2023, the high court ruled with finality that the jurisdiction of the 10 “embo” barangays had been given to Taguig.

These are Barangays Cembo, South Cembo, Comembo, East Rembo, West Rembo, Pembo, Pitogo, Post Proper Northside, Post Proper Southside and Rizal.

Taguig hits back

In a separate statement released yesterday, the Taguig City government hit back after Makati branded it as a bully.

This comes after tension between the two cities flared up over the closure of the Makati Park and Garden in Barangay West Rembo.

“If Taguig is a bully, what does that make of Makati, which the Supreme Court claimed to have unlawfully seized the territory of Taguig for more than three decades and collected taxes from it?” the Taguig City government said in a statement.

“Makati is the real expert in closing public facilities. What sets them apart from Taguig is that Makati’s closures are illegal and immoral,” it added.

Taguig likewise maintained that it has the right to regulate and manage the park as the facility is within its coverage.

It also noted that the closure of the park would only be temporary, noting that the city government is only making sure that the facility would be used for the right purposes.

In response to the criminal charges recently filed by Makati officials against Taguig, the local government claimed that the move was only a “publicity stunt” made by Makati.

The city government noted, however, that it would face the complaints when it has received an official copy from the court.