SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The dispute between the adjoining provinces of La Union and Benguet on the 300-hectare Marcos Park in Palina, Pugo, La Union which include the busted Marcos bust, is still unsettled because the agreement brokered recently by the Provincial Board of both provinces has been put on hold.
Dr. Geoffrey Tilan, provincial administrator of La Union, told The STAR that the previous agreement of both provinces in giving a “free hand” to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to conduct a survey to determine the boundary on the disputed area was suspended due to the change of administration after the last election.
“It’s (the boundary dispute) still unsettled because of the change of administration in the two provinces. It was agreed then by both officials to make the DENR as mediator and make the necessary recommendation to settle the dispute,” Tilan said in a phone interview.
Tilan said that La Union officials favored (during the past negotiations) the proposal of Benguet officials to let the DENR decide on the boundary based on the result of its survey and technical evaluation.
“DENR is supposed to submit the result of their survey, that’s the initial agreement, but it was suspended due to the change of leadership. I will suggest it again to the governor (Manuel Ortega) to meet with the Benguet officials and the DENR,” Tilan said.
The STAR learned that President Arroyo wanted the Marcos Park, portions of which is being claimed by Tuba, Benguet, to be rehabilitated and developed into a mountain resort complex to include the Aspiras Highway as a “scenic highway.” – Jun Elias