DA-12, NIA pour P5M-worth projects in Sarangani

Milk from the ‘high winds’ – (from left to right) Sarangani Gov. Miguel Dominguez, Mayor Reynaldo ‘Bong’ Constantino, United States Agriculture specialist Perfecto Corpuz and the Philippine Commission on Women executive director Emmeline Versoza gestures with a feat looks, as they lead the recent cutting of ribbon ceremony which signals the official opening of a P33M-worth milk processing plant in Malungon town, the only ocean-free municipality that laces a grandiose pile of green-colored mountain ranges at the northern side of Sarangani. For more information, (JoJo Gocotano-MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).

MALUNGON, Sarangani – The Agriculture Department in Region 12, in collaboration with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in nearby General Santos City has conferred selected member-beneficiaries of Lower B’yangan Irrigators Association with over P.6M-worth water pumps amid the continuous construction of a separate P4.5M irrigation project in Lower Biangan.     

LBIA president Faustino Pacheco Jr., said Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino officially received on Tuesday, five units of ‘brand new’ Kubota water pumps (with complete accessories) worth P699, 000 following a brief turn-over ceremony held at the municipal gymnasium here.

He said Constantino also outrighly released the farm tools to LBIA officials, who will be handling the actual releases of the water pump machines to its chosen member-recipients in Brgy. Poblacion, particularly the adjoining villages of Balacayo (2 units), Riverside (1) and Buntalan (2) that are all considered by many, as a local-based rice granary in the northern part of the said municipality.

“I’m sure these machines will be of big help to our land tillers, and likewise in our association's desire to become an effective part in strengthening our local government’s flagship program in agriculture,” Pacheco said in a vernacular.

Aside from the distribution of water pumps, another P4.5M-worth waterway project of DA-12 is now ongoing in Lower B’yangan. The project is under the direct supervision of city-based National Irrigation Administration (NIA) acting chief, Engr. Gina Lozano.    

Meanwhile, Constantino expressed gratitude over DA-12 and the NIA officials'  unfading support in all of the local government-led undertakings since he assumed office in 2007.

Aside from this two giant government agencies, Constantino have also gratified some private institutions, individuals, organizations and government officials who have shared their time, effort and resources for the benefit of Malungon town. 

Among those specifically mentioned by Constantino were Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao and Gov. Migs Dominguez, who “did' their best in supporting the LGU's transformation program.

“Aside, we also have another P5M-worth diversified farming project that will soon be completed thru the kindheartedness of the Mindanao Rural Development Program-Community Fund for Agricultural Development (MRDP-CFAD). Also included is the additional P2.5M support fund for the enhancement of our disparity barangays. Another ongoing project in the locality is the MRDP rural infrastructure support project for the development of our farm to market roads. This project anchors from Barangays Poblacion junction Pangyan to Kalonbarak, and (farm to market road) from Kiblat to Malabod,” Constantino said.

The mayor also believes that with the completion of all the projects and the unperturbed peace and order, “there is no more other reason for me to worry my people, especially the underprivileged members of the Blaan and Taga-Kaulo tribes that lives the hilly portion of my town, until my term of office ends in 2013,” Constantino said. (Isagani P. Palma-MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).