Poll post-scripts in Compostela – II

This concluding piece isn't strictly an election post-script, but rather is on the sacrificial backlash of Compostela's officialdom in making the May 14 elections of utmost precedence and priority. Or, they were so cocksure of winning that all other public concerns had to be shelved in the backburner in the interim, as in, "unya na human sa piniliay".

But first, a quick sally to the past… Sometime in the late 60's during the time of late Mayor Democrito Reynes, the then Bureau of Lands conducted a cadastral survey in Compostela. It unfortunately turned out as a typical case of haste at the price of accuracy since the actual survey had been done obviously without the presence of the adjoining owners to pinpoint the accurate or correct lot boundaries.

Such gross irresponsibility caused catastrophic boundary errors and over-lappings. The blunders surfaced much later when buyers of lots for sale had them resurveyed/relocated using the technical descriptions as wrongly delineated by the Bureau of Lands. Thus, several boundary disputes arose that almost always resulted in physical fights if not for the proverbial cooler heads.

In Cabadiangan, for instance, there are many cases of over-lapping of boundaries, three or four of which had been referred to us for advice. There were also similar feedbacks from the Guimbal-Canamucan area, in Cogon, and in Bagalnga-Basak area, just to cite some boundary confrontations.

This writer wrote the Municipal Council on October 4, 2001 when then VM Antonio Dangoy was its presiding officer but nothing came about. The letter didn't even deserve the courtesy of a reply, neither was there any reaction from then Mayor James Cabatingan.

Lately on November 24, 2006, one made a follow-up letter, but this time requesting to appear in the SB session. Per Sangguniang Bayan records, sometime early this year during their session, one reiterated the gravity of the situation that had to be addressed immediately. Mayor Dangoy who attended that session and the SB members present with VM Joy Abing presiding, were copious in assuring to act ASAP on the pressing problem. And also agreed to one's opinion that a correction survey/resurvey by the DENR - to which the extinct Bureau of Lands functions are devolved - could be their lasting legacy.

Incidentally, Consolacion town which had the same cadastral survey errors by the Bureau of Lands, promptly acted on the matter with a correction survey after representations with the DENR. Other towns might also have similar dilemma, as in domino effect, caused by divergence of the main cadastral tie lines; thus, it could be province-wide for Gov. Gwen Garcia to take heed, should the blunders be that extensive.

With regard to Compostela, the May 14 elections set aside all other public interests, and so, the turmoil bred by the tortious faux pas of the Bureau of Lands survey team stays sensitively volcanic. Meantime, the obvious blight in Mayor Dangoy's otherwise exemplary records, for putting off or dilly-dallying action on what could have been a lasting legacy, has perforce become an official onus of the SB which, incidentally, still constitutes the nucleus of Dr. Dangoy's leadership, if only to bail them out from such unwise judgment call.

And for Mayor-elect Ritchie Wagas, this is providential and a litmus test for him to work out in resolving this important public issue, hand-in-hand with the local legislature. Should the Compostela officialdom still fail and miss this time to provide the solution, God forbid, they could become part of the problem that might lead to possible bloodbath among conflicting adjoining landowners and/or their heirs. Or, in the least, trigger expensive and protracted court battles that only abet family feuds.

If there be any moral lesson to this, it may be: Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today.

*  *  *

Email: [email protected]