Makati mayor wants DILG to mediate jurisdiction issue vs. Taguig

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 16) — The Makati City local government on Wednesday said it wants the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to be the third party in settling the former’s jurisdiction issue with Taguig City.

“The only solution that I can think of is for a third party to mediate,” Makati Mayor Abby Binay told CNN Philippines’ The Source, noting that the DILG is the other party who should take this role.

In June, the Supreme Court rejected Makati's second motion for reconsideration challenging the earlier ruling on the two-decade territorial dispute with Taguig City on the jurisdiction over the Bonifacio Military Reservation, which includes the 10 EMBO barangays.

Binay has said a transition team was formed to comply with the decision, but Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano claimed that no proper turnover had been done.

The DILG has urged the two LGUs to coordinate and to ensure that public services are not disrupted by the dispute. 

Some of those greatly affected by the conflict are teachers and some 48,000 students from 14 schools located in the covered barangays.

Binay said another meeting with the Department of Education and the Taguig City government is set on Wednesday afternoon to discuss issues related to the concerned schools.

The Makati mayor also emphasized this is why it is important to have a writ of execution. She said such a document will clarify if there is a need to sell the school buildings owned by Makati to Taguig and to determine when the former should terminate its assistance to said residents.