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| ‘Tress of life’ set for mass production in Bo. Blaan – Mayor Reynaldo ‘Bong’ Constantino stress the importance of coconut and how it could be of help to uplift the living condition of poor farmers during the distribution of 18, 000 coco-seedlings to some 200-family beneficiaries in the local government’s Thursday “Lingap sa Barangay” program in Brgy.Bo. Blaan, Malungon, Sarangani Province. PCA authorities call coconut tree as ‘tree of life’ because of endless list of products and by-products that could be derived from its various parts. Inset photo shows from left: Brgy. Capt. Serene Masalon, PCA dev’t officer Paul Berjes, Mun. Engr. Rodrigo Palec and Councilor Mariano ‘Jun’ Escalada Jr. (JoJo Gocotano – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE). |
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| PCA-LGU provided coco-seedlings – Photo shows the more or less 18, 000 coconut seedlings that were provided by the local government and Philippine Coconut Authorities to poor farmers of Brgy. Bo. Blaan in Malungon, Sarangani Province. Aside, the LGU lead by Mayor Reynaldo ‘Bong’ Constantino, also turned-over the P300, 000 funding/donation from Sagittarius Mines Inc. to the Barangay Council for the mass planting of coconut, coffee and cacao seedlings in the area. (JoJo Gocotano – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE). |
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| ‘Goodbye’ to banditry – This file photo was taken in 2011, amid the mass surrender of suspected bandit leaders to Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino and Army 1002nd brigade commander, Gen. Rainer Cruz in Brgy. Bo. Blaan, Malungon, Sarangani. On Thursday (January 16, 2014), the Philippine Coconut Authority and local government officials turned over 18, 000 coconut seedlings in a bid to sustain the transformation of the then noted ‘bandits lair’ into an agricultural hub in the municipality. Included during the turn over is the P300, 000 Sagittarius Mines Inc. support fund for the mass planting of cacao and coffee saplings in the area. (Isagani Palma – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE). |
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| From most-feared village to a vast coco-farm – Tribal Chieftain Joel Corante receives a coco-seedling from Mayor Reynaldo ‘Bong’ Constantino during the ceremonial turn-over of the Philippine Coconut Authority-LGU provided 18, 000 coconut seedlings to Brgy. Bo. Blaan, a formerly known ‘bandits lair’ located near the triangular boundaries of South Cotabato, Davao Del Sur and Malungon, Sarangani Province. (JoJo Gocotano – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE). |
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| SMI support fund – Sagittarius Mines Inc. representative Lerie Malayon turns over Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino Monday (January 20, 2014), an SMI check amounting to P300, 000 as part of its community development program, particularly for the mass plantation of coconut, coffee and cacao seedlings in Brgy. Bo. Blaan, Malungon, Sarangani Province. Also in photo are newly elected Association of the Barangay Captains president Edna Tuanzon, and Mun. Councilor Benjamin Santos. (JoJo Gocotano – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE/ ipp). |
MALUNGON, Sarangani – The Philippine Coconut Authority, in partnership with the local government is set to plant thousands of coco-seedlings in a bid to help uplift the living condition of meager farmers in this town’s remote village that was then tagged as a ‘bandits lair’ in Sarangani Province.
The second delivery of 10, 000 coco-seeds to supplement the earlier hauled 8, 000 plantlets was made Thursday, amid a weekly “Lingap sa Barangay” program of the local government led by Mayor Reynaldo ‘Bong’ Constantino in Brgy. Bo. Blaan, a remote tribal village located near the triangular boundaries of South Cotabato, Sarangani and Davao Del Sur.
Constantino said the project would enable to provide sustainable means of living for locals, and help support their children in school even after his term of office ends by 2016. Under the Department of Agriculture, PCA authorities said massive coconut planting is being emphasized nowadays in an aim to develop the industry to its full potential “with visions of a united, globally competitive and efficient trading system in the country.”
Constantino said this program is being stress in far flung villages to support the local government initiatives in stabilizing peace and order which was then a perennial problem in the municipality.
Tagged as one among most-feared ‘bandits lair’ in town, Bo. Blaan and its adjacent Barangay Malabod were also known to be a ‘haven for cattle rustlers’ in the previous years, prior to the mass surrender of top bandit leaders in year 2011 before the presence of no less Constantino and former Army 1002nd Brigade commander, Gen. Rainer Cruz.
Prior to the said distribution, the local government also turned-over the Barangay Council headed by its Punong Barangay Cerene Masalon, the P300, 000 financial support fund that was formally stressed by Sagittarius Mines Inc. to the local government on Monday (January 20, 2014), for the mass planting of coconuts, cacao and coffee in the locality.
“Gani, indi ko gusto nga e-divert pa ini sa lain nga indi alinsunod sa desinyo sang amo nga programa kay para ini sa pagkakitaan kag masanag nga bwas damlag sang aton mga ka-tribu kag kabataan (I do not want that the said funding will be diverted into other priorities because this is intended for the income and future of our youth and fellow tribesmen),” Constantino who is a half-blooded Blaan, said in a vernacular.
He said banditry and cattle rustling are now part of Bo. Blaan’s history, “gani ipadayon naton ang progreso kag pagpataas sang aton dungog bilang mga Blaan para sa kaayuhan sang aton mga kabataan,” the mayor added.
PCA dev’t officer Mr. Paul Berjes said 10, 000 of the entire count of coconut seedlings were donated by local planters. He said the entire delivery which is expected to benefit more or less 200 families, is in line with coconut authorities ‘Indigenous People Outreach Program’ or IPOP in Sarangani. (Isagani Palma – MALUNGON INFORMATION OFFICE).
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