Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 16) — The Makati City government on Wednesday said it has always been willing to compromise with Taguig City over their jurisdiction issue despite the latter’s lack of response.
“That’s always been on the table, a compromise. The one that’s not budging is them. They don’t want to sit down and talk about compensation, they don’t want to sit down to talk about ‘let’s enter into MOA (memorandum of agreement),’” Binay told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
The Supreme Court in June 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.
Makati said it has complied with the ruling, creating a team for a seamless transition. This was contrary to what Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano said that no proper turnover had been done.
Among those greatly affected by the issue are around 48,000 students of 14 schools located in the 10 barangays now under Taguig’s jurisdiction. The new school year is set to open later this month.
In their previous meetings with the Department of Education, Binay said she made it clear that DepEd Makati wants to retain management of three schools, including the Makati Science High School and two others located beside University of Makati.
This was supposed to ensure that they have enough school facilities in Makati City.
However, Binay said all this along with their other requests and suggestions were rejected.
The Makati mayor maintained that Taguig should pay for the use of the school facilities since these are properties of the former and are listed under its accounts.
For these to be removed from Makati’s accounts, there should be a sale or transfer, Binay noted.
Taguig should also make it clear when its takeover will start through writing so Makati will know when it can stop providing assistance to residents covered by the 10 barangays, she added.
