Piagapo pushes development agenda

CONSISTENCY --- Piagapo Mayor Ali L. Sumandar assures to continue serving his populace though good governance as it gears for another year of challenges. He delivered recently the State of the Municipal Address. (MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

PIAGAPO, Lanao del Sur --- This municipal government is serious on pushing its various development agenda and in maintaining peace and order for the benefit of its populace following the State of the Municipal Address of Mayor Ali L. Sumandar last February 5 at the ABC Municipal Hall, municipal complex, this town.

Mayor Sumandar shared that during his first 100 days as local chief executive of the town, he had laid down his priority development agenda which include: good governance; economic development through infrastructural development; enhanced organic agricultural production; efficient and effective delivery of social services; health and nutrition developmental programs; quality and standard education; peace and order; and environmental preservation, conservation, and management.

“I am committed to use all the necessary means in my capacity as the chief executive of the town to make a difference. In fact, I have promoted the slogan ‘Onward Piagapo’ because it is my vision to lead my people towards a progressive, peaceful, safe, and secured Piagapo,” he said.

Good governance

Mayor Sumandar narrated that when he assumed office way back in 2013, the only property he has inherited from the previous administration was the empty municipal hall building. “From there, the work of the administration started and we started literally from the scratch.”

“A Municipal Hall is a symbol of local governance. Turning an empty Municipal Hall to a working government center was my first challenge as mayor. At present, it is evident how I won over my first challenge. Now we are equipped with office furniture, supplies, and computers. This is a mirror of our active governance,” he added.

Mayor Sumandar stressed that one of the factors needed to attain good governance is to have capable and well-skilled employees and officials. In this manner, the LGU-Piagapo recognizes the needs to further enhance the capability and skills of its officials and employees.

In response to such calls and  in line with the Human Resource Development Program of this administration, they have encouraged and supported the elected and appointed officials and employees to attend various capability building or performance-enhancement training in order to equipped them with necessary knowledge and skills to efficiently respond to the needs of clients and efficiently discharge their duties and become more capable in the delivery or in providing services to the constituents of Piagapo.

“We shall implement Performance Reward System this year to recognize the performing municipal officials and employees. We shall also conduct barangay assessment wherein the best barangay that meets all the criteria and requirements shall be given an award in the form of a tangible project.  By doing these, I am certain that we could boost and motivate the morale of our officials and employees and in such way promote good governance,” he said.

Financial administration

Mayor Sumandar said that based on the Governance Assessment Report of the Department of the Interior and Local Government for the past three assessment periods, Piagapo was able to meet majority of the criteria set forth in the core component of financial administration.

He added that the municipal government has also remitted Life and Retirement Premiums (Personal Share, Government Share), Employees Compensation and Loan Repayments to the Government Service Insurance System with corresponding Collection Efficiency Rate of 100 percent.

“They aim to continuously maintain 100 percent collection efficiency rate in remitting our employees life and retirement premiums and payment of loans. From 2016-2017, we were also able to raise our revenue collection up to P775,686.04 with P366,152.51 increase as compared to the previous year collection, through various collections from real property tax, police clearance, community tax certificate, business permits, and mayor’s clearance,” he said.

Administrative governance

In the area of local legislation, the Sangguninang Bayan has enacted the following ordinances which are truly instrumental in the pursuit of the Seal of Good Local Governance: General Appropriation Ordinance; Code of General Ordinance of the Municipality of Piagapo, Lanao del Sur; Sanitation Code; Child and Youth Welfare Code; Ordinance on Segregation at Source of all Households, Institutional and Commercial Waste and/or garbage into wet or biodegradable and dry or non-biodegradable; an ordinance prohibiting the manufacture, sale and distribution, possession and use of firecrackers, pyrotechnic devices and other similar explosives within the territorial jurisdiction of the municipality of Piagapo; and the ordinance implementing pre-emptive and forced evacuation when disaster or emergency has been declared in the municipality.

Economic development

Mayor Sumandar emphasized that he has addressed the issue on high poverty incidence in Piagapo which has increased to 81.4 percent, placing Piagapo third in the list of poorest municipalities in the entire Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“Talking about infrastructure and physical developmental programs, in order to address the issues on high incidence of poverty, we must determine first the contributing factors to the fact. First root cause is the inaccessibility and poor road condition. Hence, the construction of farm-to-market roads and connectivity roads has been one of my top-most priority projects. Before I was elected as municipal mayor of Piagapo, there were only 8.20 percent or 11,671 km. of our 142,311 km. total road network concreted and considered accessible. At the end of my first term, this had increased to 31,895 kilometers or 22.42 percent.  We are aiming that by the end of my second term, we will have 35-40 percent of our road network already concreted,” he added.

Mayor Sumandar said in their 2016 projects, they have implemented the three- kilometer Gacap-Tawaan Road, one-kilometer Ilian Proper-Mamaan Road, and one-kilometer Udalo-Palacat Road. In 2017, they have implemented the 498- meter Bansayan-Udalo Road, 690-meter Udalo-Kalengenan Road, 700-meter Udalo-Palacat Road, and 1,870-meter Bubo-Sapingit- Mentring Road.

“This 2018, we are undertaking the the-kilometer Paling-Mamaan Road to be funded by the INREMP, Marawi Ring Road of JICA, (refer to the PPT), and Udalo-Kalungunan-Pantaoragat Connectivity Road. Out of our eight proposed priority infra projects for 2018, which have been submitted to various agencies, four have already been approved for funding. For the past few years, we have also initiated the construction of Ilian Bridge, Radapan Bridge, and Kati Bridge. Our aim is to continuously improve our road networks considering its very significant role in the growth of our local economy,” he said.

Social services

To further address the lack of employment and economic opportunities, the municipal government has initiated employment opportunities for the constituents.

“Our administration has prioritized hiring local residents which also include job opportunities on manpower/resident labor in our various infrastructure projects. In addition, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Region-12 implemented a short-term job in the form of cash for work program which  benefitted 1,118 internally displaced persons were affected by the Marawi Siege. The beneficiaries received a total amount of P2,500 after rendering community service to the different barangays,” he emphasized.

The DSWD, with its PAMANA program, has given away dressmaking livelihood program to one of the recognized peoples organizations in Piagapo, wherein the PO had received the following materials and equipments for dressmaking: electric embroider, manual sew master singer, assorted needle, singer oil, simple, portable zigzag, singer motor, scissors, assorted thread, tape measure, and textile cloths.

“In pursuit of providing a source of income for some of our constituents and to activate the economic and commercial transactions in the municipality, we have initiated the opening and launching of the Piagapo Public Market at Barangay Radapan in August 23, 2017.  We shall further improve this public market for the convenience of our market producers and consumers,” he added.

Mayor Sumandar said that the LGU is continuously implementing mandated programs on social services though the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office. One of the social services which promotes economic development and to which this administration gives utmost importance and priority is the provision of social pensions for the elderly and senior citizens. In 2017, the number of our senior citizens who benefit from this privilege pension has increased to 1,191.

“Aside from the social pension, we also provide assistance to sick elders. Other benefits consist of giving financial assistance to sick indigents, assistance for bereaved families, and transporting of patients to the nearest hospitals at no cost through the use of our municipal ambulance. As of date, we have 4,435 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyan Pilipino Program (4Ps) which aims to uplift the living condition of the people, particularly those who belong to the poorest of the poor group,” he said.

Mayor Sumandar said that 2017 is considered as the most challenging year due to the sudden, unexpected occurrence of the Gacap Siege, followed by Marawi Siege and, early this year, we have the Typhoon Vinta. They were so devastated by both natural and manmade tragedies. Fortunately, he said, through the assistance of the ARMM, the provincial government and the help coming from various non-government organizations and sectors (CFS, WHO, UN, Action against Hunger, etc.) they were able to surpass all those challenges.

“One more thing, through our Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management DRRM Fund and from various donors, we were able to provide assistance for the IDPs,” the mayor stressed.

On the other hand, the municipal government of Piagapo strictly adheres to the advocacy on promoting organic farming. With this reason, they became one of the active members of the League of Organic Agriculture Municipalities, otherwise known as LOAM.

“We strongly believe that organic farming is a sustainable and more advantageous for farmers.  Our Municipal Agriculture Office is in its continuous efforts of implementing various programs, projects, and activities which are designed to support our poor farmers and alleviate their living condition,” the mayor added.

In addition, to address the low agricultural productivity, Mayor Sumandar said that theDSWD, through its PAMANA Program, had given away 243 heads of working cows and 81 heads of working carabaos, which have benefitted 34 cooperatives, POs in Piagapo. There were also two units of rice mills, two units of rice threshers, and two units of corn shellers provided to the farmer-beneficiaries.

Health care,

nutrition development

Mayor Sumandar said the LGU, together with the Rural Health Unit, has continued to provide efficient and effective health services to the people.

“The presence of only one Rural Health Unit, one birthing clinic catering to the needs of 25,440 constituents of Piagapo is such a huge challenge for our health workers. Nevertheless, their unwavering efforts and our partnership with NGOs have greatly improved the delivery of health care services to the people. There was a significant decrease in the malnutrition rate in our municipality. From 2.3 percent in 2016, the malnutrition rate had decreased to 1.8 percent in 2017. Continuous implementation of such programs will lead to completely eradicate malnutrition amongst our school age children,” he said.

The mayor said the RHU is also promoting the Department of Health Policy on Facility-Based Delivery, wherein it encourages pregnant women to deliver at the health center rather than at their homes to prevent possible maternal death and increase infant survival.

“This 2018, we shall implement the “Bahay Tuluyan Project” wherein pregnant women may stay in the Bahay Tuluyan in anticipation of their giving birth. In addition, we shall implement the Alkansya Ni Ina Program wherein an alkansya for every pregnant mother shall be installed in the RHU. At the time of giving birth, the mother may utilize the amount earned to buy the cloth and milk for the baby,” he explained.

In support to education, the provision of quality and standard education is one of the priority concerns of the current administration. Thus, the LGU is always in support of programs and projects related to education.

Further, Mayor Sumandar said they have strengthened the representations in the Local School Board to ensure that every education level or stakeholders is duly represented in the Board. The academe and the municipal government shall be in continues partnership in order to address the issues and challenges faced by the academe sector.

One of the primary concerns of the academe which needs urgent attention is the absence of sufficient and conducive classrooms since majority of the school buildings are Marcos type and in their dilapidated stage already. With the help of the SYNERGEIA Foundation, “we were able to construct five classrooms for the Piagapo Central Elementary School.”

“We have institutionalized the Municipal Scholarship Program wherein our top graduating students from elementary level shall receive a monthly allowance of P1,000 provided that she/he maintains the required grade. As of now, we have a total of seven scholars. Aside from this scholarship program, we also have the Support To Education Program wherein students coming from the poorest of the poor households but qualified and deserving students are provided financial assistance. We have also supported various extra-curricular activities such as scouting, sports competition, and other education-related programs and activities,” he said.

In peace and order, Mayor Sumandar said year 2017 had been a very challenging year for them after facing the Gacap Siege followed by the Marawi Siege and early this year, “we were devastated by Typhoon Vinta.”

“I have strong faith and belief that with the help of the Philippine National Police, Barangay Peacekeeping Actions Teams (BPATs), Armed Forces of the Philippines, and community leaders, we could still attain a peaceful and progressive Piagapo. However, we have a problem regarding the insufficient number of PNP assigned in our municipality,” the mayor added.

To augment the number of police officers in the town, Mayor Sumandar said they have trained additional 65 BPAT members who will provide assistance in maintaining peaceful and orderly barangay environment and suppress any possible lawless elements. BPAT outposts have also been installed in every barangay.

The following programs, projects, and activities were implemented in support to the peace and order program of the municipality: MASA MASID Launching; Provincial Anti-Drug Awareness Campaign (Municipal Roll Out); Listing of Rido by Barangay for possible settlement; Settlement of Rido at the MAC; Series of MPOC Meetings; and turn-over of loose firearms. (GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE ACOSTA - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)