Wisdom is the ability to discern or judge what is true, right and lasting.
I would like to analogize the “Bonifacio Ordinance”
akin to a wisdom tooth that appear so late – much later than the other teeth, at an age where we are presumably “wiser” than as a child.
Solving the unsolved issues through decades is the wisdom of the City Ordinance No. 569, Series of 2020 (PO-179-12-20) otherwise known as
“The Ordinance to affirm the territorial jurisdiction and resolving the territorial disputes of the thirty-three (33) barangays of Angeles City” authored by City Councilor Doc Alfie Bonifacio.
“DISCOVERY” ORDINANCE
For many years, there has been a number of boundary disputes and clarifications between adjacent barangays in the city and that inconsistencies were unearthed as to the official boundary of certain barangays and requires corrective measures. Some of the latest interesting facts are the pending re-establishment of Barangay Santol (approved by SP through the Committee on Ways & Means chaired by Bonifacio) as the 34th barangay adjacent with Malabanias and Anunas, and the Fiesta Communities in Barangay Mining which is neighbored to Barangay Capaya.
“THE RIGHT THING TO DO”
As the jurisdictional body to settle boundary disputes between two or more barangays within the same city, the Sangguniang Panlungsod —through the efforts of Bonifacio— he spearheaded such settlements with the city executive departments to help administrative conflicts and encroachments among concerned barangays. Mayor Carmelo Pogi Lazatin Jr. approved the ordinance on December 23, 2020 to concretize a unified recognition of the cadastral survey findings concerning the metes and bounds within the city’s jurisdiction. It is likened to a “silver amalgam filling”
to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape.
Aside from the series of lengthy committee hearings, it’s worthy to recognize the combined efforts of the Committee on Commerce & Industry chaired by Bonifacio, the City Assessor’s Office, Planning and Development Office, Zoning Administrators Office and Barangay Officials. It was indeed a kilometric discussion, and to a greater degree, an exhaustive and comprehensive evaluation of the city’s cadastral map based on the Tax Declaration filed to the City Assessor’s Office for the Real Property Tax payment, and existing relevant city ordinances as specified and delineated in the said maps.
Further, in compliance to DILG’s directive of “Easing Doing Business”, Bonifacio meanwhile filed an enabling counterpart ordinance to standardize and expedite the issuance of barangay permits from city hall’s one-stop-shop office.
“GAMECHANGER” WITH STRONG POLITICAL WILL
Bonifacio, a “gamechanger” in the local legislature, explored meticulously to validate and affirm the official records of property boundaries, subdivision lines, buildings, and related details around the city.
He was also committed to determine the extent, value, and ownership of land, especially for taxation, permit fees and other entitlements beneficial to a specific barangay within its vicinity or area of jurisdiction and refute such efforts of twisting the facts. Regardless of opposition by some affected barangay leaders, the said ordinance was passed on the basis of upholding the truth and doing the right thing to do.
The said ordinance was also sponsored by ABC President Jerry Alejandrino, presided by Vice Mayor Vicky Vega Cabigting and unanimously approved by SP members.