THREE municipalities from the first district of Zamboanga del Sur recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in support of the advocacy of protecting and conserving geodetic control points or mojons.
The latest press release by the Provincial Press Bureau identified the towns of Ramon Magsaysay, Sominot and Midsalip that will be installed with mojons by DENR and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA).
The said project is under the Adopt a Mojon Program of the PRS 92 which will provide a standard survey and mapping reference coordinate system that will be used by agencies in all their developmental programs.
The DENR has said that mojons will serve as reference points of geodetic engineers in the conduct of all kinds of surveys in the municipality.
These mojons, added the environment office, will form part of the national network of geodetic control points used as reference in all kinds of survey activities of all agencies.
Through these mojons, land titling will be easily facilitated including the transfers of land titles; land or property boundary gaps and overlaps; improve land administration and tenure system and improve surveying and mapping capabilities.
The MOA signing between the DENR and the respective LGUs were done between Mayors Pacifico Bulahan Jr. of Ramon Magsaysay, Teodoro Acosta of Sominot, Leonida Angcap of Midsalip and DENR regional executive director Maximo Dichoso.
Stipulations in the MOA stated that the DENR will conduct periodic inventory and recovery of geodetic control points and other reference points, provide the official list, locations and maps of the geodetic control points for adoption, design the appropriate protection measures for the geodetic control points and supervise their construction.
The DENR will likewise provide the guidelines for the protection and maintenance of the geodetic control points, extend technical assistance to the LGUs when necessary and to conduct an annual evaluation of this agreement.
The LGUs, for their part, will assist in the periodic inventory and recovery of geodetic control points and other references points, submit a report on the physical condition particularly the disturbances or destructions of the mojons, protect and maintain the mojons, to follow-all guidelines in the implementation of the project and to file the necessary criminal complaints against violations for the destruction, alteration and removal of mojon.
Hernanita Ascura, DENR-9 information officer, suggested that the respective Sangguniang Bayan must adopt a Municipal Ordinance promulgating rules and regulations to be observed by the local residents including the barangays and sitios to safeguard and maintain all existing mojons in their respective areas of responsibility.
She added the mojons will determine the final solution of the boundary conflict between bordering municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte.
Governor Aurora Cerilles, represented by Provincial Administrator Pepito Degamo in the MOA signing activity, expressed her support and said that she anticipates commendable outcomes in promoting a unified reference system through the LGU’s commitment.
It was learned also that with the reference points in place, geodetic engineers will find it easy to locate the said mojons and thus the cost of surveys will be made cheaper for land claimants.
REPORT BY JONG CADION