Biyaheng Bukid 7 DISCOVERING MINDORO ISLAND: POTENTIALS OF TAMARAW LAND

By Manny Piñol

There’s a lot more to Mindoro than just the Tamaraw.

Wednesday night, after the first informal get together with the other appointees to the Cabinet of President Rody Duterte, the Biyaheng Bukid team crossed the channel from the Port of Batangas to Calapan City, Mindoro.

I have never been to Mindoro neither have I seen its native people, the Mangyan. The only Tamaraws I saw were those confined in the Manila Zoo.

When the day broke Thursday, I saw for myself the almost limitless potentials of the island for food production.

Travelling from Calapan City in Mindoro Oriental to San Jose City in Mindoro Occidental where we spent the night last night, I was amazed at how the people of the island have enjoyed simple life in spite of the apparent neglect by government.

The only major road, the Strong Republic Nautical Highway, stretches about 450 kilometres and it would take about 12 hours to negotiate the whole distance.

There are so many potential production areas in the island. In fact, in the area of rice production, there are still towns where what the farmers simply need are tubes to get free flowing water from the ground.

Last night in Magsaysay town, I met with the group of onion, garlic and ginger farmers who have been struggling because of the unending smuggling of these commodities.

I also met a group of Mangyan farmers who waited until 9 p.m. just to share with me their dreams as a people.

In response to their requests for assistance, I have made a promise to come back on July 7 to hold the first Island-wide Farmers and Fisherfolks Forum in Bongabong, Mindoro Oriental.

By that time, I would have already assumed office and I will be able to bring with me the heads of the different line agencies of the Department of Agriculture who will be able to provide answers to the age-old problems of the farmers and fisherfolk in Mindoro.

This afternoon, Biyaheng Bukid continues as we take a 2 1/2 hour ride to Caticlan, Aklan for a round of Panay Island.

(Photo of a wide ricefield with Mt. Halcon in the horizon; rice farmers in Victoria and hog raisers in Bansud town. Photos by John Pagaduan)