by Kristine A Galarrita
The Macajalar Bay Development Alliance held a consultation meeting on June 10 at Xavier University to discuss with the member LGUs the status of their water technical descriptions and identify the next steps in the water delineation process. Engr Mario A Princer of the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority was on hand as technical expert.
Some LGUs have reported difficulty in the water delineation process because of boundary disputes.
Laguindingan, Alubijid and El Salvador have yet to agree on the delineation of the municipal water of Alubijid. Both Laguindingan and El Salvador have offered certain hectares of their municipal/city waters in order for Alubijid to have its 15 km stretch. However, a proposed sea port and an existing marine sanctuary are critically located in the boundaries of Laguindingan and Alubijid, respectively. At the consultation, Alubijid was able to offer a proposition for Laguindingan to be relayed to decision-makers.
Similarly, Sugbongcogon and Kinoguitan were in disagreement over a specific boundary point in the lagoon area which stands as marker separating the two municipalities. During the consultation, both LGUs agreed to keep the technical description made last year.
However, Jasaan, Balingasag and Lagonglong failed to set even temporary boundary points. The technical descriptions for Jasaan, Balingasag and Lagonglong were not revised last year due to boundary claims by all concerned LGUs.
The consultation was attended by mayors, vice mayors, Sangguniang Bayan/Panglunsod committee chairpersons on agriculture & fisheries, municipal/city agriculturist and municipal/city planning and development officers of the eight LGUs. Also in attendance were the MBDA Project Management Office and the XU-Engineering Resource Center.
The neighboring LGUs of Cagayan de Oro City, Opol and El Salvador City, also initiated a similar meeting on June 20. The plans and outputs of all activities will be presented by the key players to their respective Sangguniang Bayan/Panglunsod for approval.
The water boundaries of one municipality/city will be certified only after the adjacent LGUs have approved the shared technical description. The MBDA hopes that the consultation meetings and other related activities will result in a chain reaction among the neighboring LGUs to facilitate the certification of their municipal/city water delineation.
Xavier University has played a major role in the municipal/city water delineation processes as well as other projects of MBDA in relation to integrated coastal management. For three years, XU, through Dr Hilly Roa-Quiaoit of the Research and Social Outreach and McKeough Marine Center, has served as Council Secretary and Project Management Office of the MBDA.