LGUs as investors! Mindanao LGUs Urged: Invest in Food Production

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has started a campaign to assist Mindanao Local Government Units in identifying investment opportunities, especially in food production, to provide local jobs, ensure food sufficiency and boost the country’s economic recovery.

Yesterday, MinDA presented to officials of M’lang, North Cotabato the proposal to establish a modern hog-breeding facility in the town to supply the whole province with the needed fatteners.

(M’lang is my birthplace and I served as Mayor of the town for one-term from 1995 to 1998 before I was elected Governor of North Cotabato.)

The facility, estimated to cost about P200-M, is part of the Mindanao Livestock Industry Development Program initiated by MinDA to revive the hog industry badly battered by the unabated spread of the African Swine Fever.

MinDA had earlier designed a program called the “Islands of Hope” which will identify areas which had not been affected by the ASF for hog production.

In these areas, hog raising facilities called “Hogstels” will be established to serve as a common service facility for erstwhile backyard hog raisers to ensure bio-security.

During my presentation of the program before the Sangguniang Bayan of M’lang chaired by my younger brother, Vice Mayor Joselito Piñol, I emphasized that aside from ensuring food security for the town, the modern hog breeding facility will open livelihood opportunities for the people of the town.

Piglets produced in the breeding facility could be fattened in the community level “Hogstel” and later processed in the town’s abattoir.

Farmers of the town will also benefit from the program as the town operates a recently completed feed mill which could process feeds for the hog program.

A member of the council, Tadeo Andres, supported the proposal and even suggested that the town should now establish its own agro-industrial park where processing facilities for the farmers’ produce could be located.

Following my presentation, the municipal council passed a resolution asking MinDA to help the town craft an Agro-industrial Master Plan which would include the hog industry.

Next week, MinDA will submit to M’lang Mayor Russel Abonado the detailed proposal for the hog breeding facility and the “Hogstel” Program.

Once approved by the Municipal Council, MinDA will engage its banking partner, the Development Bank of the Philippines, to provide the needed funds for the implementation of the project.

#GovernanceIsCommonSense!

#KungGustoMaramingParaan!