Old decree to settle boundary dispute between two towns

A settlement to the long-standing border dispute between Aloguinsan and Pinamungajan towns is hoped to be reached soon with the interpretation of the Royal Decree of the King of Spain setting the boundaries of the two towns.

In yesterday’s meeting with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Pinamungajan Mayor Geraldine Yapha and Aloguinsan Mayor Cynthia Moreno agreed to respect whatever is the outcome of the interpretation.

Aloguinsan, a former barangay of Pinamungajan, was made a town by virtue of a Royal Decree signed in 1886. The Spanish king at that time was King Alfonso XIII.

The boundary issue surfaced again last June 11, the day before the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Explore the Midwest tour.  That day, people from Pinamungajan built the welcome arch in barangay Napo, Aloguinsan, claiming the place to be the boundary.

Tutay River is supposed to divide the two towns, but Pinamungajan claims that part of the river has dried up and that the area is part of its territory.  Aloguinsan, on the other hand, claims that the area was never part of the river.

Capitol now plans to ask the Department of Languages at the University of San Carlos to translate a copy of the document presented to the governor by Capitol consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda.

Sepulveda said the boundary dispute will be settled before the 439th anniversary of the province this August 6.

If there is no definitive location mentioned in the document, then the disputed area will be shared equally by the towns, the governor said.  —Garry B. Lao/BRP