Buldon awarded the SGLG “Hall of Fame”

PUSHING ONWARDS --- Buldon Mayor Abolais Manalao speaking before a crowd on occasion of the town’s 58th Founding Anniversary as he meekly takes pride of the LGU’s feat as SGLG “Hall of Famer.”

BULDON, Maguindanao ---  This locality  celebrated last October 28  its 58th Founding Anniversary simultaneously  with the 6th Saduratan Festival, depicting ethnic dances, with theme adoption: “Kapayapaan at Pagkakaisa para sa Kaunlaran ng Ating Bayan.”

        The festive event came with a special bonus when the municipal government of Buldon has been awarded the “Hall of Fame”  by the Department of the Interior and Local Government – National for being a consistent recipient of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Award for three consecutive years --- 2017, 2018, and 2019.

        Speaking before the constituents during the anniversary day, Mayor Abolais Manalao said the prestigious SGLG awards are owing to the efforts of the entire officialdom and the support and participation of the different sectors and constituency to “responsible, participatory,  and developmental governance.”

        “The award is for you, the people behind who make all of these into reality… Without you, my people, I am nothing in this locality. And I appeal to you, let us not stop on what we have gainfully started and unselfishly and untiringly continue working hand in hand for the progress and development of our community,” the mayor said in uttered positive emotion.

        He mentioned some of the programs and projects the municipal government has implemented, citing the Buldon Integrated Development Activities or BIDA which cover the conduct of medical outreach, supplemental feeding, and the activation of the Peace and Order Council whose regular meetings have updated the local government of security situations and ,thus, “peace actions could be initiated so a conflict crisis or crimes  would not escalate.”

                                                                                                                                                                                       

        Of significance, he said, is the implementation of the national government’s “Balik Baril” program in coordination with the 6th Infantry Division and other security forces. “This has contributed to zero ‘rido’ in our locality.”

        He said these programs and accomplishments are some of the plus factors “for our locality to be always on top among the 36 municipalities in Maguindanao.”

Founding anniversary

        The anniversary and festivity program was held at the town’s municipal gymnasium with  Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua of the Ministry of Environment Natural Resources and Energy in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

        Mayor Manalao said the theme is a showcase of the unity and camaraderie among the different sectors and populace and “we want this social and cultural atmosphere to prevail though interactive programs and linkages that we could initiate.”

        This year’s founding anniversary  showcased the culture of the Iranun tribe through ethnic dances with Mutya ng Buldon pageant that highlighted the event.

Among the activities for the week-long celebration included street dancing competition, the traditional game of Sepa sa Manguis, kulintang exhibition, the town’s first feature of “Pakitang Gilas sa Buldon “ or shooting competition, and Mayor’s Night that culminated the fest.

The mayor said the shooting competition was participated by Mayor Reynalbert Insular of South Upi, Mayor Datu Antao Midtimbang, Jr. of Guindulungan, and other invited guest shooters from the nearby localities with the special participation and supervision of contingents from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and Marine Battalion Landing Team.

Mayor Manalao expressed his gratitude to the officialdom  and the organizers for the success of the activities.  “All of what we have now come from your joint efforts to make this affair a successful one. My deep thanks to my staff, employees, department heads, different line-agencies, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Welfare, barangay chairmen and officials who are  very supportive ever since to my administration.”

“Our gratitude also goes to the men in uniform for your untiring support and assistance to our activities and administrative functions,” the mayor added.

The mayor said part of the anniversary program is the partial distribution of 500  arm chairs to the public school, dubbed as “Upuan para sa Edukasyon.” (Anne Acosta)