Secretary Benhur Abalos of the Department of the Interior and Local Government. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has created a transition committee for the proper coordination of its three agencies regarding the transfer from Makati’s jurisdiction to Taguig.
This after the Supreme Court (SC) ruled in favor of Taguig concerning the boundary dispute with Makati City.
According to Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, this coordination consists of three agencies — the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
“Kami, ang most affected sa amin would be yung tri-bureau na tinatawag namin, it will be the PNP, BJMP and BFP. [But] we assure you that the services will continue,” Abalos told reporters on Monday.
(We are the most affected among us would be the tri-bureau we call; it will be the PNP, BJMP, and BFP. But we assure you that the services will continue.)
He likewise revealed that the DILG had already issued a letter to study the effects of the SC ruling to the said agencies, adding that its transition committee has also started the inventory of Makati’s assets.
“We already made a transition committee here. We have already issued a letter to that effect to study it,” the DILG chief said.
“Yung Makati, mga pag-aari nila, in-i-imbentaryo ngayon yan at pinag uusapan na lamang yan but what is important as I have told you, the true test is yung services sa tao huwag magambala, dapat dire-diresto ito,” he added.
(Makati’s properties are being inventoried now, and we are already discussing it. What is important is how to sustain the city government’s services for residents.)
Among the facilities and assets covered by the dispute are the Ospital ng Makati, University of Makati as well as health centers, 10 barangays, and 14 schools, while the number of residents affected reaches over 300,000.
In a radio interview last month, Mayor Abby Binay said the Makati City government invested billions of funds to develop and build infrastructure in areas affected by the ruling. However, she claimed that Taguig wanted to acquire ownership of these facilities without paying them.
Abalos encouraged both cities to discuss these issues while delivering services and programs to affected communities to resolve this.
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