CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) -- The Regional Statistics Committee (RSC)-10 approved, June 13, the creation of a technical working group (TWG) for map boundary concerns in northern Mindanao.

The approval was made during the joint meeting of the RSC-10 and the Regional Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (RCSDG), June 13, at N Hotel, here.

The TWG is composed of representatives from identified regional line agencies with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10 as the chair and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-10 as vice-chair. 

The regular members are the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-10, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-10, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-10, National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD)-10, and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)-10.

Representatives from the Land Use Committee of affected local government units are identified as provisional members of the TWG.

PSA-10 mapping team, on the other hand, will serve as the secretariat of the TWG.

RSC-10 chairperson and NEDA-10 Regional Director Mylah Faye Aurora Cariño stressed that the purpose of creating the TWG is not to resolve map boundary conflicts but to facilitate the smooth conduct of statistical activities in areas with boundary issues. 

"We know nga naay mga [that there are] boundary conflicts diri sa [here in the] region that make the conduct of census and other statistical activities very challenging," she said.

This was affirmed by PSA-10 saying that its enumeration activities have been facing concerns about overlapping boundaries between barangays, between cities or municipalities, or between provinces. 

Meanwhile, costs for the operation of the TWG will be funded by PSA-10. (APB/PIA-10)