War waged over taxes from IT Park

CEBU, Philippines - The long-existing turf war between barangays Lahug and Apas, Cebu City has turned into a war for taxes.

Lahug and Apas are quarreling over who has the legal mandate to collect taxes from establishments in the Cebu I.T. Park.

Apas Captain Ramil Ayuman complained yesterday that barangay Lahug kept sending demand letters from establishments at I.T. Park to compel them to secure business permits from Lahug.

"Wa ma'y pamatasan na ilang gibuhat. Kabalo gud sila nga ang I.T. Park na-belong sa Apas," Ayuman said. (They are not showing any respect. They know that the IT Park belongs to Apas and yet why does Lahug keep sending the letters?)

In a letter dated November 23, Lahug Captain Jovito S. Taborada Jr., sent a letter to Levi Lopez, I.T. Park Administrator, informing that the City's I.T. hub belongs to the jurisdiction of barangay Lahug based on a Cebu City Barangay Boundary Map that dates back to 1965.

"The City of Cebu has recognized and used the said map to set the respective barangay boundaries despite the change in administration. Therefore, barangay Lahug's claim on jurisdiction is just, reasonable and equitable," Taborada said.

Ayuman said that Lahug is very well aware that the records at the City Assessor's Office show that the address of the 24-hectare I.T. Park is in barangay Apas.

"Bisan mutan-aw sila sa lot description ug address sa City Asessor's Office, I.T. Park belongs to Apas. Ang gipakita nila nga map is 1965 pa. Unsa naman tawon nga tuiga karon," Ayuman said. (They're relying on a very old map. They can check the records at the City Assessor's Office the lot description and address.)

He said it is Apas that provides services to I.T. Park such as security and garbage collection.

The barangay boundary map that Lahug used as basis comes from the Cebu City Hall's City Planning and Development Office.

But Ayuman said it is no longer an updated version since based on their own survey, Salinas Drive and Veteran's Drive separate Apas from Lahug.

"If basehan ang ilang mapa, I live in PC Hills, ayaw ko ingna, nagpuyo ko sa Lahug? Naa pakuy mga konsehal na nagpuyo sa sitio UCMA ug sa Torralba, nagpuyo sad to sila sa Lahug?" Ayuman said. (If we use the old map, then it would mean that I as Apas barangay captain and some of the Apas councilors are residents of Lahug.)

Ayuman said Lahug also tries to claim the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel and Filinvest.

Torralba said that they are only exercising their power to impose over establishments located in what they believe as their jurisdiction.

"Iya (Ayuman) ra sad nang opinion. Basta para namo, amoang jurisdiction ang gikan sa Globe na building padulong sa Waterfront," Torralba said. (That's just his opinion but for us, that portion from the Globe building to the Waterfront belongs to us.)

The share of the real property tax collected by the Cebu City Government from I.T. Park goes to barangay Apas. Last year, Apas earned P4 million from their share of the real property tax collected by the City Treasurer's Office in the entire barangay Apas.

Catherine Jacalan, Apas bookkeeper, said they expect that their income from real property taxes would increase by 20 percent next year after the several developments in I.T. Park and other areas in Apas.

Apas collects fees for barangay clearance of up to P500 from each establishment with P1 million and above capital, mostly are in I.T. Park.

City Planning and Development Coordinator Engr. Alipio Bacalso admitted that there is an ongoing boundary disputes in the barangays that can be resolved only through amicable dialogue or court proceedings.

He said the existing map from the CPDO may not at all be accurate. He said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources also has its own version of barangay boundaries which specifies technical description, vicinity and the metes and bounds  of each barangay. –JPM (FREEMAN)