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MODEL BACKYARD GARDEN
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Engr. ZamzaminAmpatuan (center), the municipal mayor of Rajah Buayan,
encourages local residents to cultivate their piece of land as source of
livelihood and food security. (GILMHAR
A. LAO - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)
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COTABATO CITY --- The local government unit of Rajah
Buayan in the province of Maguindanao is envisioning to become one of the
agricultural hubs in this part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
after suffering from years of recurring armed conflicts.
Engr. Zamzamin Ampatuan,
municipal mayor of Rajah Buayan, said the direction of the municipal government
is significant since the town is 90 percent agricultural land.
“This town is very
productive before but the years of armed have affected the livelihood of local
residents. We are glad to inform you that things are slowly changing nowadays,”
he said.
He said commercial
activities are growing, but one thing they would want to plan about is how to
develop feasible livelihood programs that would complement the agriculture sector
such as the production of local farm products.
Zam Ampatuan said
it has been a challenge for his part on how to increase awareness among his
constituents on the importance of focusing on the livelihood aspect for the
benefit of the families.
“We understand the
psychological effects of previous armed conflicts. There’s no other way but to
go forward. We would want to create a culture of independence. We don’t want
our people to be solely dependent from the aid of the government,” he stressed.
In this case, the
local government is mapping out a plan to conduct skills training to support
the livelihood programs.
“One effective
approach that we think of as a good start is through developing backyard
gardens for our residents as source of livelihood,” he said.
Zam Ampatuan said
backyard gardenening could improve the ability of the residents to meet
interrelated concerns of food and economic security, nutrition, and health.
“Some potential
benefits of backyard gardening include income for the household, improved food
security, and increased availability of food and better nutrition,” he said.
Zam Ampatuan, a
licensed civil engineer, is also a peace advocate. He was only 26 when
President Corazon Aquino appointed him director of the Department of Trade and
Industry in Maguindanao in 1989. Years later, he also served as executive director
of the Office of Muslim Affairs, lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty
Commission, administrator of the Southern Philippines Development
Administration, and Energy undersecretary.
He was supposed to
end his government career and settle in his native town of Rajah Buayan, one of
the 36 localities in Maguindanao, to become a farmer but tried his luck during
the village elections and won as barangay chairman. Soon after, he settled to
run for mayor in his town.
Zam Ampatuan emphasized
that his success for the past years of governance in turning around his town
from being underdeveloped into a center of agricultural production encouraged
him to work further for the benefit of his town constituents.
Accordingly, Rajah
Buayan under Zam Ampatuan was awarded Certificate of Recognition by the
Department of the Interior and Local Government for having achieved effective
governance in peace and order.
Rajah Buayan is politically
subdivided into 11 barangays, namely: Baital, Bakat, Dapantis, Gaunan,
Malibpolok, Mileb, Panadtaban, Pidsandawan, Sampao, Tabungao, Zapakan. (GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE B. ACOSTA - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)
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