Malabang, Lanao del Sur – This historic town where then Philippine Acting President and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Jose Abad Santos was executed by his Japanese captors in 1942 has long been a picture of government neglect.
For four long years up until 2018, Malabang and six other towns were in total blackout.
Power is back now, thanks to the support of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.
Today, I am confronted with another symbol of government neglect – there is no bank or even just an ATM in Malabang.
In February 2017 when I was Agriculture Sectetary, I flew to Malabang from Butig Lanao del Sur and met with the local leaders and fisherfolk where I announced my plan to establish an ice plant to support fish production in the town.
Instead of a thunderous applause which we usually receive from communities where we made similar pledges, what I saw was a bewildered look in the faces of the people of Malabang.
“Cannot be, Sir,” Malabang Acting Mayor Raizoli Sarip Balindong told me.
When I asked why, Mayor Balindong said Malabang and six other coastal towns of Lanao del Sur had no electric power for four years..
So, for four years, homes had been without refrigerators and only those who could afford solar panels had access to radio, TV and internet.
I was shocked and all that I could mutter was: “What the f.ck!”
People in other parts of the country would raise hell over an hour-long brownout.
The people of Malabang and the five other coastal towns had suffered a 4-year blackout.
I brought up that problem with Energy Secretary Cusi and accompanied the mayors to a meeting with him.
That problem is now solved.
But in my recent visit to Malabang, I again learned of another problem.
The town has no bank, not even an ATM machine and the nearest bank for the people is either Pagadian City or Cotabato City.
This has been a major problem for the Matling Industrial Commercial Corporation, a cassava starch manufacturing company which has been operating for the last 90 years in Malabang.
MICC has requested MinDA to facilitate the opening of a DBP branch in Malabang town, preferably within the MICC compound to serve the needs of the thousands of farmers who have to encash their checks with rediscounting outlets thus reducing their income.
I have brought this to the attention of DBP President Emmanuel Herbosa and he has promised to support the project and look into the viability of establishing a DBP branch in Malabang.
Now, I believe people will understand why as part of my governance advocacy, I travel to the remotest areas of the country.
There are simple problems affecting the lives of our people which could easily be solved if only these are brought to the attention of our top decision makers.
But sometimes, the whirring of the 2-horsepower air-conditioning unit in our government offices drowns the cries of people from the far-flung areas of the country.
#WeNeedToWalkAnExtraKilometer!
#TouchTheGroundFeelThePulse!
(Photos showing Malabang town were downloaded from public websites while other photos show my visit to Malabang in February of 2017 when I discovered that they had been suffering from a blackout for four years.)
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