The launching of the first resettlement village of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program was a dramatic achievement for the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the local government units of Mindanao and all the agencies of government through their regional offices.
When we received the directive that we should work on the Balik Probinsya Program, the MinDA staff immediately sprung into action without asking for any additional funds, just pure and simple common sense and dedication to public service.
With virtually nothing to start with, MinDA identified two provinces initially based on the preparedness of the local government units – Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga del Norte.
Lanao del Norte is headed by Governor Imelda Q. Dimaporo, a passionate local leader who belongs to a respected Mindanao political family, while Zamboanga del Norte is under a new Governor, Alberto Uy, a businessman turned political leader.
The Mayors of the towns selected – Kauswagan for Lanao del Norte and Kalawit for Zamboanga del Norte and Kalawit Mayor Salvador Antojado – are also admirable specimens of public servants.
Arnado is a veteran political leader whose father was also Mayor of his town, an organic farming advocate and a resourceful worker.
Without any funds to start with, he talked to the power generation company in his town, GN Power Kauswagan which immediately provided funds for the purchase of a 6.3-hectare lot and the construction of a model Duplex Housing Unit.
Antojado, on the other hand is a former Marines officer assigned in Kalawit and who decided to stay and become the young town’s mayor.
Guided by a veteran development worker, Joey Bernad who represented Gov. Uy, and an equally resourceful municipal development officer, Antojado was able to locate a 200-hecctare area, previously allocated for a government food production program, and worked with the Dept of Environment and Natural Resources to use this as the resettlement site.
Even when there were reports that the program would be suspended because of lack of funds, MinDA led all agencies involved to continue planning and working.
Now, we are finally starting something which could serve as a model of farming communities all over the country.
The Mindanao Model of the Balik Probinsya Bagong Pag-asa Village is inspired by the Kibbutz of Israel but tweaked to institutionalize the Filipino Bayanihan spirit.
When completed, it will become a testament to the resourcefulness of many people in government and a proof that not all government programs really need millions or billions to be successful.
Our enthusiasm and spirits will not be dampened by reports of massive corruption in other branches of government. There will be a day of reckoning for them.
Resourcefulness, Self-Reliance and the Dedication to Serve will be enough to change our country for the better.
Governance is not at all complicated. Just identify the problems of the people and find ways to solve these and help them to stand on their own.
As Chairman of the MinDA, I am proud of the people working with me in this small agency for with their help, I was able to prove that it is not the size of the budget that matters but the commitment to serve.
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
(Video clip of my introductory message for Sen. Bong Go yesterday was provided by the Kauswagan Information Office and edited by Samuel Ponsica, MinDA OC)
https://fb.watch/aNIrk-kMSU/
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