On Border Row With Lapu-Lapu, Cordova seeks governor's help

CEBU, Philippines - Officials of the municipality of Cordova are asking Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to act as a go-between in the dispute with Lapu-Lapu City over territorial boundaries that mark out the municipal waters.

Cordova Vice Mayor Rodrigo Jumao-as and members of the municipal council said the municipal government is in the process of delineating its municipal waters and setting the territorial boundaries for purposes of proper coastal zoning and planning.

A municipal council resolution however says the municipality has discovered visible monuments on the Lapu-Lapu City side of the banks of barangays Pilipog and Gabi rivers which signify its exclusive territorial rights over the two rivers.

The resolution states Lapu-Lapu seems to disagree with the town officials’ claim of ownership over the rivers.

“Though there were several meetings and preliminary site inspections conducted, the progress is too slow and dragging,” the resolution states.

With the impending resolution of the dispute, the resolution said the rivers suffer water pollution due to lack of management.

“We feel the need to expedite the processes of resolving the disputes and delineate the municipal waters of the town, so that they can address the pressing issues at the right time,” the resolution states.

Vice Mayor Rodrigo Jumao-as and members of the City hope that with Governor Garcia in the picture, the boundary dispute can be settled once and for all. - THE FREEMAN