Claveria, a “China” in Mis. Or. Boundary Disputes – Pelaez

Claveria, a “China” in Mis. Or. Boundary Disputes – Pelaez

MISAMIS ORIENTAL, Philippines (May 18, 2014) — Vice Governor Joey Pelaez, here today said the Municipality of Claveria, Misamis Oriental is like China in terms of the number of boundary disputes it is facing against its neighboring town, city and province.

Pelaez made the statement when he spoke live today over a radio program he sponsored dubbed as “A Happy Mis. Or.”at Radio Natin FM, Gingoog City of the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC).

“Claveria has been for a long time facing boundary disputes with the City of Gingoog, the Municipality of Medina and the Province of Bukidnon that make it like China which is facing boundary disputes with its neighbors,” said Pelaez who promised to work out for their immediate resolutions as he only has two years left of his three-year term of office.

He added that the accumulated Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) shares being frozen by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on the affected area of the disputed boundaries have ballooned to over 200 million pesos as the law provides that until after the disputes shall be resolved, only then that the said amount be released to the winning local government units.

The Philippines today has been saddled with numerous boundary disputesamong towns, cities and provinces which have surfaced and up for resolutions right after its Local Government Code was approved and implemented in recent decade providing IRA shares based on the land area of a municipality, city and province. So, imagine how much more IRA shares being frozen for the entire Philippines? Definitely billions of pesos based on the Claveria situation alone.

Hence, it is viewed as a flaw not being seen before by the architects of the Local Government Code hindering the growth of the nation. The Philippines is actually a truly rich country only that the assets and opportunities have been frozen by technicalities while a bulk was being corrupted by politicians and their allies, most trending of which is the 10-billion peso pork barrel scam.

It is the same story of resources for developments being frozen with the Spratly islands at the West Philippine Sea. Oil exploration, fishery and other developments may have been undertaken already by the Philippine government in the area if China is only out of the picture. The Spratlyislands are wholly owned by the Philippines in accordance with the International Lawproviding that this area is well within the country’s territorial waters. But China also claimed the area and built concrete structures therein with the unfounded reason that it lies within its territory as it is within the South China Sea.

So, this China’s stand has raised worries that it may also claim the whole Philippine archipelago as their own and may launch a lightning attack to the capital City of Manila to once and for all make reality of their claim.(by LOR VILLA ENCENZO)