Cotabato Will Be A Model In Corporate Governance!

Yesterday, October 8, I decided to offer myself again to serve the people of Cotabato as Governor, a position I served from 1998 to 2007, to transform our province into a vibrant agro-industrial production zone through the implementation of Corporate Governance.
This was not an easy decision to make considering that I do not have the financial resources and I will be up against a well-oiled political machinery of the current provincial leadership with access to “Ayuda” funds, from MAICS, AICS, AKAP, TUPAD and many more.
There are, however, compelling reasons for me to defy the odds and go against the advices of well-meaning friends who said that I could be inundated by the deluge of financial and material dole-outs.
I am making a leap of faith believing that the people of Cotabato could still look beyond the color of money and see programs and projects which would give them lasting relief from hardships and poverty.
There is no more time for me to waste because I am in the sunset of my life and the reforms in governance must be done now.
Let me start with the petty but emotional issues.
1. Political weaponization of government’s financial aid which I call “Ayuda Terrorism”. Kung kapartido ka at supporter, kasama ka sa Lista sa Ayuda. Kung hindi ka supporter, wala kang bigas at hindi ka kasama sa AICS, MAICS, AKAP, TUPAD at iba pa. All provincial employees are commanded to “Like” and “Share” posts about the provincial leadership including their family activities. Ang mag-share and like may bigas samantalang ang matigas ang ulo ay matatapon sa malayong mga assignments. While I am not convinced that dole-outs and “Ayuda” are the most effective way of lifting our people from poverty, since it is being given by government then everybody should benefit from it and it should not be used as a political weapon;
Beyond this childish and immature governance, there are other serious issues which need to be addressed.
2. The Cotabato Airport or Central Mindanao Airport had remained unfinished 21 years after I started it for the very simply reason that it is Manny Piñol’s Brainchild. With God’s Grace, we will have this airport operational within three years;
3. Cotabato Corn Farmers must be given relief with the establishment of the Cotabato Corn Grains Silo System which I have designed. Under this program, Corn farmers could opt to sell or deposit their corn in the Silo System to protect them from the exploitation of traders. This will be the same system which we will adopt for our Rice Farmers as we introduce corporate governance in Cotabato. Common Service Post-Harvest Facilities like Dryers and Grains Cleaners will be set up in all towns of the province;
4. Starting next year, our fruit farmers will no longer face problems of selling their fruits and suffer losses because it is my plan to establish outlets for Cotabato Agricultural Products in the big cities as we embark on a Corporate Cotabato Initiative;
5. Our Rubber Industry will be given a major boost under the Corporate Cotabato Initiative as we will move up to the processing level for our rubber products to assure our rubber farmers of a steady market and a fair price. We will produce our own Motorcycle Tires which I started when I was Secretary of Agriculture but which was stopped when I resigned;
6. The Provincial Government will initiate the “Tubig sa Kada Barangay” Program where all barangays will be provided with safe sources of water, through Solar-Powered Water Systems or Water Catchments;
7. The Provincial Government under my leadership will support the establishment of the Hydro-Power Plant in the Libungan River as pushed and initiated by the local leaders led by Mayor Jesus Sacdalan. The Hydro-Power Facility will not only ensure sufficient power supply for Cotabato as we move towards Agro-Industrialization but also be a source of household water for the towns of Alamada, Libungan, Pigcawayan, Midsayap, Aleosan and Pikit;
8. With the support of the Department of Agriculture where I still have friends and supporters, we will embark on a Cattle Development Program which will turn the whole province into a Halal Beef Production Center with Kidapawan City leading the way. Farmers will be provided with cattle for breeding and fattening in their backyards;
9. With the City of Kidapawan leading the way, we will establish Community Hogstel Projects in the different towns of the province where backyard farmers will be raising hogs in modern facilities complete with feed mills, breeding and growing facilities and slaughtering and processing facilities;
10. Finally, our programs to help the poor will shift from dole-outs to livelihood activities supported by the Provincial Government, from goat and sheep raising to the production of free-range chicken which I have developed, Manok Pinoy, with processing facilities and a ready market.
These programs are not merely figments of imagination because I had designed in the past innovations in governance which became national banner programs the most prominent of which is the SAAD Program of the Dept. of Agriculture, among others.
We will turn North Cotabato into a model for Corporate Governance in the whole country where everybody, regardless of political loyalties, religion or tribe will be part of the dream.
I will pour all of my talents and use my vast experience to turn Cotabato into a model province in the whole country.
You have seen me rise from a small town Mayor to Governor to Secretary of Agriculture, Chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority and the first and only Filipino elected Chairperson of the Biennial Session of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome from 2017 to 2019.
In my long years in public service, I had never embarrassed my family and the people of our province as I stayed clear of any questionable government transactions.
Even in the face of temptations, I kept my head above the muck of corruption and held the distinction of being the only Cabinet Secretary who volunteered to submit to a Lifestyle Check and passed it.
Practical, clean, honest and effective Governance will be my legacy for the next generation of Cotabateños and with your support we will realize this dream.
Thank you and may God bless us all.