THE provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya has asserted its ownership anew over a large  area in Barangay Malico in the land dispute with Pangasinan.

Nueva Vizcaya Vice Governor Jose Gambito maintained that it based on the results of the survey by the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA).

Gambito cited the agreement was reached in year 2000 when former Congressman and now Nueva Vizcaya Governor Carlos Padilla had tripartite agreement with Pangasinan through former Congressman Ranjit Shahani and the NAMRIA, to settle the dispute, that the NAMRIA would set the demarcation line between the two provinces.

However, Gambito said that Pangasinan did not pay its share when the NAMRIA results came out against Pangasinan’s advantage.

“Ang usapan noon paghatian ang gastos na PHP1.2 million. Nang lumabas resulta ng NAMRIA kung saan malawak ay sakop ng Nueva Vizcaya, hindi tumupad sa kasunduan ang Pangasinan”, said Gambito in an interview.

Gambito asserted that Nueva Vizcaya owns majority of Malico through its municipality of Santa Fe, where a small part of it is only owned by San Nicolas town in Pangasinan.

“We have to protect the interest and rights ng Nueva Vizcaya over the area para walang masabi ang mga tao,” Gambito added.

The issue over the Malico dispute was revived after decades-long hiatus after a news on plans of building of a tourism center is being proposed by Pangasinan.

Gambito said the aim of building a tourism center is good, but that Pangasinan should build it in their side of Malico, and that the indigenous peoples in the area, holders of their respective Certificate of Ancestral Domain Claim (CADC) must approve.

Their permission, however, should not be concluded as a waiver of Nueva Vizcaya’s claims, said Gambito. (Ahikam Pasion)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments