Kabuntalan observes 41st renaming anniversary

HISTORICAL ACCOUNT --- Mayor Salaban Diocolano (4th from right) welcomes guests and visitors to a  “kanduli” in observance of the town’s 41st Renaming Anniversary last September 22. (GILMHAR A. LAO - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

KABUNTALAN, Maguindanao --- This local government adds another year of competence as it observes its 41st Renaming Anniversary last September 22 with a simple “kanduli” and recognition to the undying exemplary services of selected municipal officials, employees, and barangay officials.

The simple celebration was held outside the building of the new Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Operation Center, which is one of the highlights of the recent accomplishment of the municipal government.

With the theme, “Kabuntalan 2017: Good Governance towards Sustainable Peace and Development,” Mayor Salaban Diocolano proudly announced that the town’s 17 barangays are now “drug-cleared”.

“This would not have happened without the full backing and support not only of our local officials, the military, and the PNP but also of the serious commitment of our barangay officials and the local populace themselves,” Mayor Diocolano said.

During the observance, Mayor Diocolano also awarded the top-three performing barangays and warded them with chairs, steel cabinets, and computer sets.

To recall, Tumbao was created into a municipal district during the governorship of Datu Udtog Matalam and became a full-pledge municipality on June 16, 1949 under  Executive Order No. 227 issued by then President Elpidio Quirino.

Datu Lauban Bakar, son of the first Sultan of Bagumbayan, was appointed the first mayor.

After his term, he was succeeded by Datu Carpenter Dumamba who later filed a resulotion changing the town’s name from Tumbao to Kabuntalan in memory of the first ruler and founder Datu Dikaya.

The word “Kabuntalan” literally means handsome or beautiful, and accordingly, the early inhabitants were models in manner, style, and culture.

On September 22, 1976, by virtue of the Presidential Decree No. 1010, Kabuntalan was officially adopted by the town as its official name.

Still in connection with the renaming anniversary, the local government also conducted tree planting along Baranagay Lower Taviran and Qur-anic Reading Exhibition. (GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE ACOSTA - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)