PAGADIAN CITY (Mindanao Examiner / May 16, 2013) – The heirs to the Taug-Boto clans have put up barricades at the Pagadian City Airport after the government again failed on its promise to pay them for the use of the runway.
The Taug-Boto clans own the land that straddles the airport runway.
On April 4, the heirs put up barricades in the area to force the government to pay them some P8 million for the use of their ancestral domain. The barricades were removed days later after government officials led by Pagadian Mayor Samuel Co and Airport Area Manager Jose Bodiongan agreed to pay the Taog-Boto heirs, but they had failed.
There was no immediate statement from the airport authorities about the clan’s decision.
Last month, commercial airliners suspended operations in Pagadian City because of the protest.
Commercial operation at the airport started on April 27, 2010 and many of its passengers come from the Zamboanga Peninsula and in nearby Lanao provinces, including Cebu.
Airliners Cebu Pacific and Air Phil Express ply the Pagadian-Cebu-Manila routes. (With a report from Ely D. Umaboc)
20