A Case Study: Analysis of Land Dispute
Issues in Taguitic, Kapatagan Lanao del
Norte
Charisse Aleli L. Doyongan
Summary
Land ownership problems are crucial
to the Philippines' economy. These problems
extend in such a way as to prevent, if not
frustrate, attempts to address other national
problems in the overall economic, political
and social life of the people. Problems of
land ownership patterns and agricultural
development in the various islands and
provinces vary somewhat. These differences
are however not so large as to change the
overall pattern, since neither province is
totally outside the overall issue.1 In this case,
land disputes could be a probable cause of
misconduct and conflict among families
fighting for an ownership over a land.
Taguitic is a small barangay in the
municipality of Kapatagan with over 4, 446
population in the 2015 mandated census.
This small town represented 7.07% of the
total population of the municipality.2 Years
ago, the pieces of lands in Taguitic were said
1 many urban poor families.3 Therefore, the
Cutshall, Alden. "Problems of Landownership in the
Philippine Islands." Economic Geography 28, no. 1
(1952), 31. doi:10.2307/141618.
2 3
"Taguitic, Kapatagan, Lanao Del Norte Profile –
PhilAtlas." PhilAtlas. Accessed May 25, 2021.
https://www.philatlas.com/mindanao/r10/lanao-del-n
orte/kapatagan/taguitic.html.
to be originally founded by the Ceniza
family. However, the Peñas Family claimed
to be the rightful owner of these lands. Both
parties were both fighting for ownership and
rights over these lands with their claims of
the historical method of ownership. In its
perspective, land disputes could create a rift
between families and even go beyond to
violence. In this study, the main objectives
would be the social effects to the people
settling in the lands. In addition, this case
study will allow a range of perspectives in
contrast to the individual view with an
interview with the participant involved in
the issue to better understand the case of
land disputes and ownership.
I. Introduction
The poor in the Philippines depend
heavily on their livelihood and welfare
access to land. Three-quarters of the poor
live on farming and fisheries. The urban
poor also depend upon land as housing
provides them with access to the urban
economy. The poor in urban areas make up
25% of the total poor population. The house
is a basis for income generating activities for
Balisacan, A.M. 1994. Poverty, urbanization and
development policy: a Philippine perspective.
Quezon City, Philippines, University of the
Philippine Press.
efficient and socially acceptable distribution
of land is essential for sustainable economic
activities to address poverty alleviation in
farming, fisheries and urban economy.
These benefits could well be gained through
access and rights of lands. Thus, many
families and feuds had developed over the
years because of the desire and power that
could be acquired if you have legal
ownership over the pieces of land.
Distribution of land in the Philippines has
been a major issue for decades in some
urban areas including land tenancies,
conflicts and land-grabbing. In line with
this, the issue of land conflict/dispute would
be the main objective of this case study and
how the issues and challenges stride over the
succeeding years of social problem effects
within the lands of Taguitic, Kapatagan,
Lanao del Norte.
II. Issue and Analysis
The land disputes over the two
families in Taguitic, Kapatagan, Lanao del
Norte, Philippines have been going on for
years because of the slow due process of the
case and the lack of evidence to support
each claim. Because of this, the issue of
ownership escalated to physical violence
affecting many people living within the
areas. In line with this, many informal
settlers have been living within the areas
without the right of possession throughout
the lands. They appealed cases and won
cases too. While this is an on-going
case/issue, it is hard to predict who should
have the legal ownership over these lands.
As the case went through, many realizations
were uncovered during the process of
gathering sources and information.
Land competition is an explosive
challenge when linked to other root causes
of conflict. There are possible key factors as
to why the case dragged on for years without
legal settlement, here are as follows: 1)
weak governance of land, including
dysfunctional legal systems and lack of rules
on land management which practically
works on the ground; 2) inability of
governments to deal with land disputes and
conflicts. These land problems come across
in many ways and are increasingly
recognized as the heart of violent conflicts.
In the pursuit of social effects, the people
within the area have experienced (1) being
an informal settlers because of the on-going
issue of the case (2) biases of the people
between the two families and caused an
even wider rift among the people living
within the lands.
III. Alternatives and Decisions address unjust customary practices
Addressing Land Conflict and disputes within a community.
(2) Work with confident community
Land resolutions aim to build a
leaders and officials of government.
common understanding and strategic
It may be useful to raise the dispute
approach to addressing land conflicts. These
if internal debate and negotiation do
approaches can be used by all relevant
not work. Respected leaders may use
actors in the field of land conflict and
their powers to aid parties in the
dispute. Instead of waiting for conflicts to
resolution of difficult land disputes.
develop, communities should prepare for
(3) These are following responses of the
them by identifying areas of conflict and
people involved in the conflict:
developing a conflict management plan.
● there are serious discrepancies
Taking a case to court can prolong the
between parties about relevant facts
conflict, cost a lot of time, and expose the
and information
parties to more conflict. Alternative conflict
● a significant power imbalance
resolution strategies, such as mediation, can
between parties is evident
help resolve the conflict without the use of
● people become very emotional,
courts or mediators. However, because the
compromise becomes difficult
case went up to higher court, face up
● communication between the parties
multiple violences, these strategies are only
is unwilling.
to pacify the on-going conflict and mediate
the opposing parties: Mediation is a neutral third party
mediator structured process. Mediators may
(1) Creating a public discussion is an
be attorneys, mobile community
important part of a community
representatives or trained and respected
meeting to facilitate open dialogue. It
members of the community. The task of the
involves gathering all the
mediator is to remind the parties of the laws
participants and identifying the root
concerned, help the parties to communicate,
causes of the disagreement. Open
establish a common ground and to identify
dialogues can work well in a variety
desired solutions. The mediator's objective
of situations. They can be used to
should be to assist both parties in arriving at
a resolution that benefits both parties, and
not only one. Once a conflict resolution is case in the court, the possible sources would
achieved, all parties should register and sign be the oral interviews conducted, the people
it in written form. This will make it possible who witnessed the impending dispute, and
for everyone to abide by the agreement.4 the recorded hearings and papers.

IV. Methodology
VI. Conclusion
The study approaches the concluding
Different conflict prevention
issue allowing us to see the perspectives of
mechanisms are integrated into land and
the people involved in the conflict and to
resource management. Proceeding with
further assess the underlying causes and
safeguards like permits, licenses and other
effects of the dispute. Furthermore, the
compulsory compliance to government
research will use a qualitative approach and
agencies have been shown to sometimes
make use of descriptive and analytical
prevent disputes about land and resources,
methods in examining the sources. In the
but in some cases only serve as rubber
process of gathering data collection, we
stamps for land investments.5 In this case,
conducted oral interviews with the key
the prevailing conflict issue in Taguitic,
informants and surveys among the people
Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte will need to
affected by the issue. The study used
have legal proceedings to mediate the issue
purposive and snowball sampling techniques
and violences - internal and external and
identifying the informants of the interview -
make settlement of relocation having to put
a semi-structured type interview.
and divide the boundaries of land to
therefore conclude the land dispute and
V. Identifying Sources and Key
conflict in Taguitic, Kapatagan, Lanao del
Informants
Norte.
The pieces of information were
gathered from the people involved in the
conflict in Taguitic, Kapatagan, Lanao del
Norte. Because the case is still a pending

4
Practical ways to resolve land conflicts. (n.d.).
Tearfund Learn.
https://learn.tearfund.org/en/resources/footsteps/foots
teps-101-110/footsteps-105/practical-ways-to-resolve
-land-conflicts
5
Land Conflicts Issue. (n.d.). Asian NGO Coalition –
For Agrarian Reform and Rural Development.
https://angoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Land_
Conflicts_Issue_Brief.pdf