Governor Attorney Jose V. Gambito has called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to refrain from intervening in the boundary dispute between Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, and San Nicolas, Pangasinan, particularly concerning Barangay Malico. This plea follows the DENR’s creation of a task force specifically aimed at addressing the boundary issues between the two municipalities.
During a recent consultation and orientation meeting organized by the Land Management Bureau (LMB) of the DENR, which focused on the 2019 masterlist of land areas for cities and municipalities, Gov. Gambito made his stance clear.
“I appeal to DENR not to dip fingers on this issue,” Gov. Gambito asserted, urging the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to avoid unnecessary involvement in a matter that he believes has already been conclusively resolved.
Governor Gambito emphasized that the boundary dispute over Malico has already been thoroughly addressed. He asserted that Barangay Malico is officially part of Nueva Vizcaya, citing a delineation conducted by the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) of the DENR. This delineation was the result of a mutually agreed-upon survey, formalized in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by both parties.
“There is no longer any boundary dispute to discuss,” Gambito declared. “The NAMRIA delineation has settled the issue, and it was based on a memorandum of agreement that both parties fully perfected and signed.”
Gov. Gambito defended the legitimacy of the agreement, asserting that the process was transparent and lawful. “The contract has been consummated, as the completed NAMRIA survey has already delineated the boundaries. There is nothing left to do but respect the results of this agreement. Everything is now a fait accompli.”
Gov. Gambito made his appeal directly to Engr. Fe C. Lingan, Chief of the Surveys and Mapping Division of the LMB, requested her to convey his appeal to the higher officials of the DENR. In an interview, Engr. Lingan confirmed that she would relay the governor’s appeal. She explained that the task force, led by the LMB, includes representatives from both Pangasinan and Nueva Vizcaya.
Engr. Lingan emphasized that the task force will not make a final decision on the issue but will provide recommendations based on their findings. “Whatever the findings of the task force, we will inform the concerned LGUs,” she stated.
While expressing gratitude for the PHP 200 million donation, Gov. Gambito also voiced concerns regarding Pangasinan’s potential investments in Malico. He warned that such actions could lead to allegations of technical malversation. “If Pangasinan invests in Malico, they would be spending public funds in a territory that falls within the jurisdiction of another local government unit,” he cautioned.
According to Gambito, he views the PHP 200 million as a donation because Pangasinan cannot undertake projects in Malico, given that it is not part of their jurisdiction. Gambito further reminded the provincial government of Pangasinan that engaging in projects in an area not under their administrative control could be in violation of regulations set forth by the Commission on Audit (COA).
The DENR has yet to issue a formal response to Gov. Gambito’s appeal. The outcome of this appeal could set a precedent for how similar boundary disputes are handled in the future, potentially influencing policy and administrative processes at both the local and national levels.
