GEN LUNA, Siargao Island — Surigao del Norte First District Rep. Francisco Jose Matugas II disclosed that the power of a local government unit to seek permit for a sports event inside its area of jurisdiction is enshrined in Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991.

The lawmaker stressed that the LGU to require permit for an event to be conducted inside its territorial jurisdiction is manifested under Section 444 of RA 7160.

This comes after a row erupted between the municipality of Gen. Luna and the provincial government of Surigao del Norte regarding the holding of a National Surfing Competition, also known as the Governor's Cup, which is the second leg of surfing events in Siargao Island as sanctioned by the United Philippine Surfing Association.

The first leg — the Mayor Sol's National Surfing Competition was already completed last 2 October in Gen. Luna town, while the second leg — which is sponsored by the provincial government of Surigao del Norte under Governor Lyndon Barbers — was supposedly slated from 5 to 13 October also in Gen. Luna.

However, the municipality said that it has an edict — the Municipal Ordinance No. 026-22, enacted on 23 June 2022 that created the Municipal Sports and Recreation Center under the Office of the Mayor.

Section 1 of the ordinance said all sports activities — including surfing — to be conducted in the town will be managed by the MSRC and all sports activities in the town — which is not authorized under the MSRC — shall be deemed illegal and contrary to the provisions of Ordinance No. 026-22.

Matugas said a permit is really needed as the the local government of Gen. Luna "has a valid and operative ordinance that all sports activities should be under the direct supervision of the Office of the Mayor."

He added that even the Department of the Interior and Local Government has acknowledged the power of the LGU to ask for permit as stipulated in Section 444 of RA 7160.

"The question is, why did the Governor refuse to apply for a permit from LGU Gen. Luna, when in fact he applied for a mayor's permit from other municipalities like Dapa, San Isidro and San Benito?"
Matugas said.

DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos arrived in Siargao Island on Wednesday last week to look into the controversy and sources said that Barbers was made to decide whether to ask for a permit or cancel the scheduled sports event.