CA settles Batanes’ 37-year boundary dispute

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May 2, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals (CA) has settled a boundary dispute between the municipalities of Ivana and Uyugan in Batanes that had been ongoing for 37 years.

The municipalities have been battling for ownership of a 227-hectare property bordering the towns.

In a decision handed down on April 20, the CA’s 13th Division ruled that the contested property belonged to the municipality of Ivana.

In settling the dispute, the appellate court cited two resolutions issued by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) or provincial board in April 1986 and November 2023.

Records showed that the dispute had been settled by the issuance of SP Resolution 32 in 1986, which was affirmed by SP Resolution 55 in 2023.

The CA dismissed a petition for review filed by the municipal government of Uyugan questioning a decision of the Basco Regional Trial Court Branch 13, which affirmed the 1986 and 2023 resolutions of the provincial board.

CA Associate Justice Mary Josephine Lazaro cited the prevailing Batas Pambansa 337 in 1986, which provides that disputes involving jurisdiction of municipal governments over areas or barangays must be heard and decided by the provincial board.

The law provides that if no settlement is reached within 60 days from the date of the referral of the dispute to the board, the case should be elevated to the Regional Trial Court.

While the municipal government of Uyugan went through proper channels in appealing the dispute, the CA said the SP resolutions were not appealable.

The appellate court said that the period of 15 days for the filing of appeals has expired, noting it took 37 years for the municipal government of Uyugan to do so.