Cotabato motorists spared from road closure
KIDAPAWAN CITY, COTABATO, Philippines — Motorists and businesses would be spared from a major traffic disruption after the heirs of a landowning family in Makilala, Cotabato, suspended plans to close a section of the national highway traversing their property while awaiting the outcome of a court hearing.
Last week, the Tejada family announced that it would barricade the highway beginning today to pressure the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to settle long-overdue road right-of-way compensation claims.
The planned closure threatened to disrupt the movement of people and goods across Cotabato, Davao del Sur, and Sultan Kudarat provinces.
The affected stretch of the road serves as a vital transportation corridor linking Cotabato province’s capital Kidapawan City, Digos City and Davao City in Davao del Sur to Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat.
Markjo Berg Tejada, one of the heirs, said on Monday that the family decided to heed the DPWH’s request to temporarily suspend the barricade.
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Representatives of DPWH-Soccsksargen met with the Tejada heirs in Makilala on Monday morning to discuss the dispute.
Court hearing
According to Markjo, government officials asked the family to hold off on the closure pending the outcome of a court hearing scheduled for June 11.
Another heir, Edwin Tejada, said the DPWH has yet to settle the remaining compensation owed to the family despite more than 20 years of waiting.
The disputed property covers a portion of the highway stretching from near the entrance of Makilala National High School to the entrance of the Makilala Public Market.
Edwin said the family received an initial payment of P1.4 million from the DPWH in 2014, but the remaining balance remains unpaid.
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The family erected a billboard announcing the planned closure of the property pending the resolution of a civil case before the Regional Trial Court in Kidapawan City. The case seeks to prohibit the use of the family’s private property and requests the issuance of a temporary restraining order and a preliminary mandatory injunction.
Similar instances
The Tejada family has previously restricted access to the property to press its claims.
The first closure took place in 2000 but was eventually resolved through negotiations involving then-Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Piñol and the DPWH.
In 2024, the heirs also barricaded the entrance to the Makilala Public Market. The issue was later settled after the local government assured compensation to the claimants.
Another heir, Rowel Tejada, said the DPWH appealed to abandon the latest plan due to its impact on economic activity. —WITH A REPORT FROM EDWIN O. FERNANDEZ
