Payback Time! Integrated Agriculture Plan For My Hometown, Mlang

On Dec. 16, I will turn 70 and after a long, difficult, challenging but rewarding journey in life, I now look back to serve my hometown by crafting what could be my legacy, a private-sector initiated Mlang Integrated Agriculture Master Plan.
The MIAMP will be a product of my years of experience as a Rural Development and Food Security Advocate and it will revolve around the improvement of the economic life of rural families, especially those living in the Upland Villages.
It was in Mlang where I started my political career, winning as Mayor in 1995.
With no experience in governance, I designed a simple governance concept called W-L-R-L-P for Water, Light Roads, Livelihood and Peace.
This program provided the basic needs of the villages and many of the water systems I established 28 years ago are still working until today.
This time, as a private citizen, I am introducing a Rural Development Program anchored on Family Food Security and Economic Upliftment.
This would include the planting of crops with assured market, like Sorghum, Soybeans, Onion and Garlic, and the raising of Ruminants like Goats, Sheep and Cattle and free-range chicken.
What would make this program unique is that it will engage farming families directly and will be implemented without the constrictive bureaucratic requirements of government.
I have already started this with model farms for Sorghum in Barangay New Esepranza and Soybeans in Barangay Ugpay.
Soon, we will establish a Demo Farm for Bulb Onion and Garlic and establish a Multiplier Farm for Sheep, Goats and Manok Pinoy.
This will be done with the support of private companies and friends who have supported my Agricultural Advocacies like the CP Foods of Thailand (Philippines), the Southseas Agri-Aqua Ventures, Inc., Vetmate Farma Corp. and well-meaning friends.
This is payback time to the town where I first saw the light of day and a testament of love to the people of my hometown who had always loved and supported me.
#TestamentOfLove!
(This creased and faded photo, the first picture taken of me as a child, shows me and my older brother, Patricio, with Tatay and Nanay in our farm house in Bialong, Mlang, North Cotabato in 1954.)