Long-time Ableg-Cagaluan boundary dispute in Pasil nears settlement

Pasil, Kalinga – The official address of Pasil National High School (PNHS) and other issues associated with the long-time Ableg-Cagaluan boundary dispute are expected to be resolved after successful talks between parties involved.

Councilor Ronnie Bawalan, Chairman of the Committee on Peace and Order, said he sees progress on the dialogues with both sides willing to adjust for a win-win resolution.

The boundary dispute has caused several problems with the official address of a school and residences, taxation of real properties, and other land-related issues in the area.

Background of the Ableg-Cagaluan boundary dispute

The dispute started during the construction of the elementary building where the boundary of Ableg and Cagaluan is located.

“Idi inpatakder da ti elementary idiay, kinoveran ti taga-Cagaluan so daytoy taga-Ableg inyalis da diay school ditoy banda ti location da. After that, insubli da manen diay elementary idiay dati nga ayan na and then naisabay diay construction ti high school,” Bawalan explained.

Sitio Tucol as part of Barangay Ableg

Accordingly, the location was tax mapped back in the 1990s without the consent of those from Cagaluan and other concerned stakeholders, so Sitio Tucol was registered as part of Ableg at the Assessor’s Office.

A tax map is a special-purpose map, accurately drawn to scale showing all the real property parcels within an area, serving as a basis for just and uniform taxation of real properties.

Cagaluans’ claim

People of Cagaluan claim that they own a larger part of the lot and they are against the tax mapping done without a public hearing.

“Santu lang naamwan dagiay taga Cagaluan di napan da idiay assessor ket diay ginatgatang ti Ableg a daga idiay Tucol ket Ableg ti naka-address idiay declaration da,” Bawalan said.

‘Bugis’ as basis of both parties

Both sides claim that the lot is part of their “bugis,” an area covered by a traditional treaty called “bodong.”

“Nasurut dagidiay inbagbaga ti inmuna idi a diay bugis nga boundaries ket isu ti sursuruten da enggana tatta ket talaga nga nu kitan da diay bugis da, diay pagta iti bodong, kunada naka-indicate a maala diay lote banda ti Ableg. Itatta, ti kunan pay ti Cagaluan, nu bugis manen ti suruten, adda met laeng idiay bugis mi dayta a lote,” the councilor relayed.

Recent Development

On February 25, 2022, Bawalan along with the other members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Pasil held a third meeting for the officials of both sides. Also present in the meeting were the personnel of Philippine National Police-Pasil and National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP).

According to Bawalan, Cagaluan leaders decided to adjust the boundary, giving more space for Ableg.

“Nag-adjust met ti Cagaluan. Kunada, bagi ti Ableg diay evacuation, bagi ti Cagaluan diay BFP site ken diay eskwelaan idiay ngatu,” said the councilor.

Officials of barangay Ableg asked to give them a week to discuss the matter with their elders.

Cagaluan shall be informed of the decision of Ableg elders.

The municipal council is expecting to certify the agreement of both barangays for said dispute resolution by next week.

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