Adams, Ilocos Norte—Owing to the slow resolution of a land dispute over a portion of this town which had been allegedly encroached by an Apayao municipality, town Mayor Wilma Dupagen-Daquioag has scored the snail-paced movement of the case she has filed with the provincial government seeking legal assistance. According to the lady mayor, she could not see any reason why there had been no result in her plea to Atty. Jaime Agtang, the provincial government’s legal counsel, to seek the speedy resolution of the dispute which began in 1995 following the creation of Sitio Bucarot in this town and which is being claimed by the municipal government of Calanasan in Apayao. She explained that she had submitted all the necessary documents to support her claims in accordance with that law that Sitio Bucarot is part of Adams and not a part of Calanasan, Apayao. Earlier, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Ilocos Norte has recommended that Adams’ resolution on the land dispute be referred to Agtang wherein the provincial government lawyer was requested to review all the pertinent documents and inform the provincial government of Apayao about the claims to resolve the issue. However, Daquioag divulged that up to today, Sitio Bucarot residents are still clueless on which province and town they belong. Sitio Bucarot is far from Adam’s poblacion area and there is no accessible road going to the area, which has forced the sitio’s residents to travel to Calanasan, Apayao to buy their basic needs and services. With this development, Daquioag related that the Calanasan local government had reportedly taken advantage of the situation as the town mayor appointed several local officials in the area and even funded several infrastructure projects in the Sitio including access road to Calanasan and a Day-Care Center. In view of this, Daquioag said she issued a memorandum to the Calanasan officials to desist from constructing infrastructures in the sitio as it is the duty of the Adams municipal government to provide these to the sitio residents. Daquioag however related that Calanasan Mayor Leonora Bulut-Begtang, whom the memo was addressed to, had not replied. The Adams mayor added that her government had also constructed a barangay and Day-Care centers for Sitio Bucarot residents. When asked what made the Calanasan municipal government claim the sitio, Daquioag theorized that it may be because of the possible mining operation that may be conducted in the area, an operation her administration rejected due to the possible ill-effects on the environment. She added that it could also be for an additional share in the internal revenue allotment (IRA) as IRA shares are computed based on land area and population. Leilanie G. Adriano
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