issues

A disputed boundary: the case of Pasig and Cainta

Boundary disputes are never fun. They are a source of so much mess and confusion, not only between the contesting parties of the dispute, but also among residents and visitors, myself included. Such is the case of the issue going on between the city of Pasig in Metro Manila and the town of Cainta in the province of Rizal.

The area at stake is actually a very large tract of prime real estate that is thriving with commercial and residential activity, covering the residential villages of Karangalan Village (East) and Cainta Greenpark Village, the V.V. Soliven Commercial Center, and the Sta. Lucia Mall.

Pasig Cainta dispute
the disputed area marked in black

Now a look at all the maps available on Metro Manila shows that technically, the area concerned falls under the jurisdiction of Pasig. But in reality, the establishments in this area actually follow the governance of Cainta’s government. In fact, a check of the business permits of the commercial establishments in the area, for example, show that their permits are issued by and are paying taxes to the town of Cainta. From what I’ve gathered, it seems these establishments to have themselves be submitted under the governance of Cainta due to various reasons, foremost of which is that they pay lower taxes to the town compared to what they need to pay if they were under Pasig’s jurisdiction.

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Sta. Lucia Mall, the most prominent landmark in the area being disputed by Pasig and Cainta

And with so much as stake, you can never expect either party to take this issue sitting down. For the Pasig government, it maintains it’s not much about the finances but an opportunity to set things right. On Cainta’s end, the resolution and how it will be resolved is important as it is currently making a bid to become Rizal province’s next city.

Unfortunately, there seems to be no definite resolution in sight yet for this dispute that is almost 20 years in the making. So until this issue is resolved, for the meantime, we will follow the current boundary demarcations which place these areas under the jurisdiction of Metro Manila, of Pasig in particular.

© The Urban Roamer

8 Comments

  • Delia Corazon

    Until now, Cainta is still languishing on its cityhood bill for more than 10 years right now for unable to settle its boundaries, not only with Pasig but with Antipolo and Taytay.

    Because of Cainta’s ambition and financial power over other Rizal towns and competition with Pasig, formerly capital of Rizal, they’re claiming the money on taxes which is at stake and also trying to justify the owner’s preference due to lower taxes they’re paying. They have no historic nor legal jurisdiction of these areas from the start. Can they not also check the weird boundary shape Cainta has created with its neighbors?

    I hope that Antipolo, Taytay and Pasig can rightfully claim what is rightfully they belong to. It’s almost 30 years and still the court can’t decide the impasse or status quo on this. Hope that One Cainta should become “Juan” Cainta for the preservation of FIlipinos living in these areas.

    • The Urban Roamer

      Your comment reminded me a photo recently of Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto and Cainta Mayor Kit Nieto together in some meeting. It will be interesting to see what Mayor Vico Sotto will do on this matter. Will he follow the hardline stance of the Eusebios regarding this area or will he somehow make some concessions?

      There is also the perception that the Ynareses seemingly “cold” on the proposal of having new cities in Rizal despite the likes of Cainta, Taytay, and San Mateo long overdue for cityhood, but that’s another story.

  • Delia Corazon

    For the boundary continuity and shape, check its boundary with Marikina and you’ll see the crookedness Cainta has taken from the start.

  • Jose laureta

    Part of San Isidro Balanti imo should be part of Marikina. Weird ng boundary na yan also people there are do their livelihood in Marikina , study , shopping etc. many also originated in Marikina

  • Nelson Ferrer

    Kaya naman po napaka weird ng boundary na yan, lalo na dun sa may pagitan ng Pasig and Cainta sa Felix Avenue. Kasi dati po may muhon na humahati diyan sa Area na yan doon po sa side ng Pasig. Kalahati Cainta, kalahati Pasig doon sa Area ng Karangalan and Greenpark tapos nagulat nalang ang Rizal Provincial Government na bakit bigla nalang naging solo ng Pasig ang kabila ng Felix Avenue?

    Kasi po yung muhon sa gitna ng Area na yan ay tinanggal ng mga tauhan ni Mayor Caruncho ng Pasig, at saka pinangbabaril ang mga tauhan ng gobyerno ni Mayor Felix ng Cainta na nagbabantay dati diyan sa muhon. Kaya madali na nilang nakuha ang lugar na iyan. Nangyari po iyan panahon pa ni Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Early 1980’s pa po. Kaya sana isoli na po ng Pasig ang mga lugar na yan sa Cainta. Kasi inagawan talaga naman po nila ang Cainta.

  • raymond fields

    It is just purely political..iisang Pilipinas..I’m sure people are happy where they lived right now no matter what.Gagastos lng ang Judicial sa inyong Polical aims..Buwis ng tao ang nasasayang sa mga ganitong issue..

  • Daviano

    We have the same problem too with our HOAs here in Nagpayong, Pinagbuhatan. If you’ll go to Sandoval Avenue at madaanan mo ang San Roque supermarket, Cainta ang ginagamit nilang address which is weird kasi yung katapat nila na mga condos (Arezo and Palmdale Heights) Pasig naman ang address na dinadala. Imagine yung bahay mo Pasig tapos pag labas niyo ng highway yung katapat niyong mga bahay Cainta which is weird. Sa HOAs naman namin (Rodrigo Compound, Villa Cuana, Villa Aurora, Mangga I, II, and III, San Sebastian Homes, Dilang I & II, Centenial I, etc…) kinukuha din kami ang Cainta. Medyo mahaba habang usapin ‘to and may conflict din sa lupa dito na sana naasikaso at the time of Bobby Eusebio and Rodrigo Asilo. Binigyan pa kami ng assurance noon na Pasig daw kami tapos ngayon at the time of Mayor Vico nalaman namin na Cainta yung lupa namin which is weird kasi Taytay ang katabi namin at walang ibang way sa amin papuntang Cainta. Sa dulo namin is Ilugin river tapos sa tawid naman is Greenwoods Executive Village which is Cainta. I’m hoping na sana ma-resolve ‘to at wag sana kami matulad sa nangyari sa Makati and Taguig.

  • Chad Aaron Daguino

    Oh ang weird nga ng bounday conflicts nyo po. Ilang bayan to. Pero ngayon mas weird at hindi makatao sa amin sa Embos. sa Makati na nagttake over ang Taguig. Sa inyo po tahimik. Dito brasuhan po Napakawalanghiya ng Taguig. Kung makikita nyo sa news and social media.

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