MATI CITY, Davao Oriental, June 30
(PIA) --- The provincial government of Davao Oriental has made progress
in agriculture and also strengthened disaster risk reduction management
aside from creating a dent in addressing poverty, malnutrition, health
services and revenue collection.
Rice production is the major player in
the agriculture sector of Davao Oriental. Through its Food
Intensification Program, the province posted 67 percent rice sufficiency
in 2011 from 44 percent in 2007.
On Agriculture
The provincial government expects to soon hit 100 percent
rice sufficiency level with the completion late last year of the Cateel
Irrigation Project designed to irrigate 1,600 hectares to 2,000 hectares of
rice fields in the municipality.
It also counts as indicators of a much improved
agriculture production the string of awards in agriculture that it has
received, particularly as Gawad Saka Regional Champion award in 2011, 2012,
2014 and 2015. It ranked among the top 10 provinces as Agri Pinoy Rice
Achiever Awardee (APRAA) in 2015, having achieved outstanding performance
in rice production.
The provincial government attributed such accomplishments in agriculture
to its flagship program “Pagkain at Kita and Agri-Business Development
Program” that it has rolled out along with the Rural Entrepreneurship
Advocacy for Change (Reach).
On Peace and Order
On the other hand, the provincial government has taken into
account the implementation of Peace and Development Outreach Program
(PDOP) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as a crucial factor of
establishing relative peace in the province.
As a result, the AFP declared Davao Oriental in 2013 as totally
development- ready. Governor Malanyao also earned in the same year the Gawad sa
Kaunlaran Award, the highest recognition given by AFP to an LGU official who
worked well for peace and development.
Malanyaon then built in April, 2013 a halfway house called “Happy
Home”, a transitional home “providing psychosocial, spiritual counselling and
livelihood trainings for former rebels”.
On Disaster Management
Meanwhile, within eight years, the provincial government of Davao
Oriental has strengthened its disaster risk reduction and management
capability, consequently, holding the title as Regional Gawad Kalasag
Champion for six consecutive years from 2009 to 2014.
Provincial Governor Corazon Malanyaon attributed to the already
established disaster management capability of the province, its able response
to super Typhoon Pablo that badly hit the east coast towns of the province in
December 2012.
She counted the setting up of the Provincial Central Incident
Command Post (PCICP) and the establishment of municipal incident command posts
in all towns as crucial “to the orderly and effective coordination in the
disaster response operations” during and after Typhoon Pablo.
On typhoon Pablo Rehab
More than two years after Pablo, the provincial government claims to
have gained headway in its rehabilitation efforts to build back badly hit towns
of Cateel, Boston and Baganga through its the Building Back
Better Program that charts “Davao Oriental’s Way Forward for 2013-2016”.
Data from the Provincial Governor’s Office (PGO) revealed that
close to 17,000 permanent shelters have been constructed by the
provincial government with funding support from the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD). These have been turned over to typhoon victims.
More than 500 permanent shelters were also built by the National
Housing Authority (NHA) and turned over to typhoon victims, while more than
8,000 workers were employed in shelter construction.
In addition to coconuts intercropped with short-term duration crops, new
crops have been identified for propagation, such as oil palm,
rubber, cacao, coffee, fruit trees and bamboo
The resiliency of Chili was also discovered after Pablo that prompted the
provincial Agriculture Office with the Department of Trade and Industry Davao
Oriental Field Office to explore its market potential, consequently helping
typhoon-affected farmers to find alternative source of livelihood.
On Local Governance
Despite the numerous setback it has gone through, the provincial
government of Davao Oriental has reaped awards on local governance.
Among these are the 2012 Regional Gawad Pamana Ng Lahi, Seal of Good Local
Governance in 2013, in 2014 and in 2015; and the 2015 Seal of Good
Financial Housekeeping.
Approaching the final year of her administration, Malanyaon still keeps in step
with the provincial development plan in running her administration but
she prioritizes environment, eco-tourism and rural tourism.
However, she still gives importance on agriculture among other key
sectors she viewed as drivers of the local economy. (PIA 11/Jeanevive
Duron-Abangan)
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