Mindanao Review

Review

MINDANAO

The Official Publication of the Mindanao Development Authority Volume 1 Issue 1 May to June 2020

BAGONG PAG-ASA. MinDA Chairman Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol leads the ceremonial groundbreaking of a resettlement area under the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte. Photo by MinDA.

MinDA starts groundwork in three model BP2 villages DAVAO CITY (June 2, 2020) – Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) starts this week the groundwork in the three resettlement villages under the “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa (BP2) Program” in Zamboanga del Norte and Lanao del Norte with the establishment of Project Management Offices in each of the three projects.

Secretary Emmanuel Piñol bared on Tuesday that in a meeting presided by BPBPP Council Chairman and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea in Malacañang, the Council Secretariat headed by National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Marcelino Escalada, Jr. approved and accepted the Mindanao Development

Authority’s (MinDA) proposal to roll out the “Balik” Program with an initial three pilot projects.

Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, the leading proponent of the “Balik Probinsya” program and Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Aimee Neri, also attended the meeting.

“MinDA’s proposals were the results of a series of consultations conducted with the local governments of both provinces for more than three weeks,” Piñol added.

The pilot areas for the BPBPP Model Resettlements with 200 families each are in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte for organic broiler chicken and vegetable

production, in Sergio Osmeña, Zamboanga del Norte for highvalue vegetables and free-range chicken production, and Kalawit in Zamboanga del Norte for tree farming with cacao and coffee intercrop and free-range chicken production.

“Each of the model ‘Balik’ pilot villages will have housing facilities that the beneficiary-families will pay back in the long term.

The families will be provided with livelihood support funds and subsistence allowance by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) while other member agencies of the BP2 Council will provide added support programs,” Piñol said. continuation on page 7

MinDA completes ‘Balik Probinsiya’ consultations DAVAO CITY (May 31, 2020) - The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), a member of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program, has completed a series of consultations with local government units (LGUs) and regional directors of line agencies for the implementation of the program in Mindanao.

In a statement on Sunday, Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said that after their trip in Lanao Del Norte to consult with Governor Imelda Dimaporo and several mayors and Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte Mayor Salvador Antohado, Jr. on May 27 and 28 respectively, their team has travelled by land from Mindanao to Manila over the weekend for a series of meetings with Senator Christopher Lawrence Go. Go is the main proponent of the program, and the BP2 program council secretariat headed by National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Jun Escalada.

“I will present to them the concerns of the LGUs, specifically Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga del Norte, so that these will be taken into consideration as we stage the Roll-Out of the three model resettlements.

Let me clarify that, contrary to earlier reports that Balik Probinsya has already started in Mindanao, not a single family has yet returned to Mindanao under the program,” Piñol said.

He said that the program is a noble undertaking which will correct the flawed development planning of government for so long.

He assured the public that with his long experience in governance and involvement in crisis management, he will not initiate a program without the needed consultations with all parties involved.

“The most important guiding philosophy I have embraced in governance is to build programs from the ground up and that the most solid foundations of any program are those which are made up of the dreams and aspirations of people who will be affected,” Piñol added.

He said that MinDA will see to it that the program will succeed in Mindanao and as he hoped that they will be able to provide a template for ‘Balik Probinsya’ communities in other parts of the country.

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BP2 CONSULTATIONS. MinDA Chairman Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol presents the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program during his series of consultations with (from top) Kalawit Mayor Salvador P. Antojado Jr., Zamboanga del Norte Governor Roberto Uy, and Lanao del Norte Governor Imelda Q. Dimaporo. Photos by MinDA.

continuation on page 5

RURAL DEVELOPMENT. A model of a proposed agro-industrial complex for rural areas under the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program.

Image courtesy of Kidapawan City Tourism Office.

MinDA tasked to establish model rural resettlements DAVAO CITY (May 3, 2020) - The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has been tasked to build rural resettlement models as Malacañang prepares draft of an Executive Order to be signed by President Rody Duterte which would establish the “Balik Probinsya, Balik Pag-asa” Program.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, said that during a ZOOM conference with Senator Christopher Lawrence Go and presided by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, all departments were instructed to initially utilize their available funds to implement the first phase of the rural resettlement program.

“During the ZOOM Meeting, I presented MinDA’s earlier proposal contained in a memorandum that informal and jobless urban slum dwellers should be prioritized in the application.

Exec. Sec. Medialdea emphasized that the “Balik Probinsya” program should essentially be a “Return to Home Province” where the applicants have relatives,” he said.

He added that Medialdea tasked MinDA to establish the first model resettlement communities to provide a template for succeeding batches.

Piñol pointed out that MinDA has earlier presented three activities where the first batch of “Balik Probinsya” participants could be involved.

These are tree farming in public lands with livestock and poultry raising as immediate livelihood component, fish cage farming in the coastal areas of Mindanao and vegetable farming, poultry raising, and livestock raising in a community-based activity with complete value chain.

“In the “Balik Probinsya” Concept submitted by MinDA to Sen. Go, “Balik Probinsya” participants should be clustered

based on their livelihood project preference and grouped in a Kibbutz-style where the community undertakes a common production activity.

MinDA next week will submit a list of provinces willing to take back their former constituents in the rural reintegration program,” he added.

As to the tasking, he added that National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Marcelino Escalada, Jr., presented a matrix on the general concept of the “Balik Probinsya”, said those interested could apply on-line or coordinate with the local government units where they are in now.

“The NHA will prepare a housing package for “Balik Probinsya, Balik Pag-asa” Program which will be part of the incentives for the participants,” he said.

Piñol said Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said his department will issue a memorandum to advise the local chief executives of the urban areas where the “Balik” applicants will be coming from on how to handle interested families.

“Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Agriculture Secretary William Dar and Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez committed support from their departments for livelihood projects for the “Balik” participants,” he added.

On the other hand, Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones and Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said their departments will provide a listing of all available government lands for possible resettlements.

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Isidro Lapeña said his agency will provide training packages for the “Balik Probinsya” beneficiaries.

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Model “Balik” hub ground breaks in Lanao Norte town

MODEL RESETTLEMENT AREA. MinDA Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol and Kauswagan Mayor Rommel Arnaldo inspect a model house in the resettlement area under the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program. Photo by MinDA.

DAVAO CITY (June 24, 2020) –The first Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa model village for returning informal urban dwellers in Mindanao has started with the groundbreaking ceremonies in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte on Wednesday.

After the groundbreaking ceremonies, the Project Management Office (PMO) for the Kauswagan Organic Balik Probinsya Village signed a marketing agreement with the Eng Seng Foods Corporation, a Mindanao private agritrading company.

The groundbreaking in Barangay Tacub was attended by Minda Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, local government unit representatives and private sector representatives.

Eng Seng Food Products will buy and market the organic chicken and vegetable production of the village.

It will have 50 units of Quadruplex housing to accommodate 200 families who will be involved in the production of organic chicken and vegetables.

“This program in Kauswagan is the first and the model for the whole country. BP2 will be the start of the equitable sharing of the national wealth, shifting the focus of economic priorities from urban centers to the countryside,” he said.

Piñol said he selected Kauswagan as a model community of BP2 due to the sound and transparent governance of the present administration, which will be an ingredient to make the program successful.

“BP2 is a challenge to Kauswagan, but it is never a burden to help our fellow men. We dream that BP2 will be the key for the upliftment of Filipino lives, the key to food security and sustainable development,” he added.

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“The private sector support for the project was actually started by a Kauswagan-based GN Power Kauswagan (GNPK), which donated PHP10 million. The fund was used in acquiring the 6.8-hectare property and the construction of the first model quadruplex unit,” he said.

However, Piñol assured that all member agencies of the BP2 Council would contribute to the village’s development.

“BP2 will be our strategy to maximize our own resources to boost our industries- that will provide jobs and economic development in the local community,” he further added.

For his part, Mayor Arnado thanked the MinDA chair for bringing BP2 in his municipality. “Kauswagan is ready for this type of program, while we are still planning and trying to conceptualize BP2, this already saw the potential of this town. I saw Kauswagan as the ideal place for the BP2 program,” Arnado added. #

Lanao Norte eyes more sites for “Balik Probinsiya”

EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES. MinDA Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol provides updates on opportunities that can be explored in Lanao del Norte under the BP2 Program.

Photo by MinDA.

DAVAO CITY (May 27, 2020) – Lanao del Norte Governor Imelda Q. Dimaporo committed full support to the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pagasa Program (BP2) Program and offered more resettlement areas for her province’s returning informal urban settlers, an official said Wednesday.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said that the Balik Probinsya team meets with the governor and several town mayors in the said province.

Dimaporo said the province is ready for the roll-out of the pilot BPBPP Project in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte.

Earlier, Kauswagan Mayor Rommel Arnado has offered to host the first BP2 program resettlement area for 200 families to be involved in organic broiler chicken and vegetable production.

Dimaporo added that the succeeding sites in the province should explore other models in the livelihood and economic activities.

Meanwhile, Piñol said that Mayor Barry Baguio of Kapatagan vowed to host a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) facility which could employ returning residents.

He added that other mayors said they are willing to host BP2 resettlements too with a different set up.

“The MinDA team which left Kidapawan City early today for a 6-hour land trip, will return to Tubod next week for another round of consultations with LGUs. From Tubod, the MinDA Team will proceed to Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte for a site validation and consultation for the BP2 Program implementation,” Piñol added.

The BP2 Program, initiated by Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, aims to balance urban and rural development by refocusing government resources on the countryside.

Decongesting urban centers, especially Metro Manila of informal settlers and relocating them in the rural areas with support from the different government agencies is the first step in the program.

President Rodrigo Duterte has issued an Executive Order implementing the program through a Council initially composed of 22 agencies.#

MinDA completes... from page 2

Balik Probinsiya and Hatid Probinsiya explained “Balik Probinsya “ program is a proof that previous government planners and economic managers were wrong in concentrating development in urban centers while neglecting the needs of the poor in the countryside.

Piñol added that the program which now employs the “whole-of-nation-approach” with 22 government departments and agencies involved is not just a reaction to the problems seen in the containment of a pandemic like the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in over-populated areas but an admission by the government of flawed policies in the equitable sharing of government resources.

Hatid Probinsiya on the other hand, is a program that facilitates the return of stranded individuals in Metro Manila to their respective home provinces during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said it is a “short-term, humanitarian effort” that sends stranded people, including displaced Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), travelers, students and tourists, who could not return to their provinces because of quarantine restrictions.

Unlike the Balik Probinsya, it gives incentives and livelihood to Filipinos who wish to be permanently settled in provinces after the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) measures are lifted.#

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ADDITIONAL RESETTLEMENT PROJECTS UNDER BP2. Business Process Outsourcing or BPO is identified as one of the potential industries that can be introduced in Lanao del Norte for Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program beneficiaries. Photo by MinDA.

Lanao Norte gov mulls BPO village as ‘Balik’ model DAVAO CITY (June 1, 2020) - Lanao del Norte Governor Imelda Dimaporo who endorsed the town of Kauswagan as the site of one of the first three model resettlements for the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program of the Duterte Administration is developing other models for the program, including the establishment of a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).

“Just like the Kauswagan model, the Kapatagan Balik Probinsya Village will also have a housing project where the returning residents will stay,’ Piñol said.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, said in a statement on Monday (June 1), that during their consultation meeting with several town mayors in Lanao del Norte, Governor Dimaporo said she is willing to host more Balik Probinsya resettlement projects with the support of the different agencies of the national government.

“Governor Dimaporo said that what is important is the constant coordination between the national government agencies and the local government units for the implementation of the program. And she said that they fully support this program initiated by Senator Bong Go and being endorsed by President Duterte,” the MinDA chair added.

He added that the mayor of Kapatagan town would like to establish a BPO outlet which would employ returning Lanao del Norte residents.

Lanao del Norte is expected to roll out the first Balik Probinsya model community in two weeks as Kauswagan has already prepared the town for the program. #

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He added that another town would like to set up a Balik Probinsya village where the residents will be involved in tree farming with Coffee and Cacao intercrop.

MinDA starts... (from frontpage)

He said MinDA would also propose to the Department of Tourism (DOT) that the “Balik” model villages be included in its Agri-Tourism Program.

He added that the BP2 meeting held in Manila on Monday has also come up with a timetable of activities.

June 2 to 3 would be the submission of Lanao Del Norte and Zamboanga del Norte, the list of applicant-families for vetting and validation. June 4 to 5 would be the vetting and validation of applicants by local government units.

The list of selected families who have indicated their preference for agriculture activities will be returned to the BP2 Secretariat. By June 8 to 26, the location of families and health quarantine protocols and social preparation by the Department of Health (DOH) and DSWD would start.

The actual transfer of families from Metro Manila to their selected provincial destinations would be on June 27 to

30; they would be housed temporarily in shelters. July 1 to 15 would be the start of the skills training for both men and women members of the families conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Health monitoring continues to this time.

The construction of houses and livelihood facilities up to completion will be on July 16.

The first model resettlement villages, along with the livelihood facilities, are expected to be completed by October 2020. The three model villages will serve as the template in the implementation of other ‘Balik’projects in other parts of the country,” Piñol added.

The “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa (BP2) Program” implemented through an Executive Order issued by President Rody Duterte, aims to decongest the urban centers by creating jobs and income opportunities in the provinces.#

Bukidnon’s veggie farm eyed as “Balik” resettlement site DAVAO CITY (June 24, 2020) – Bukidnon Governor Jose Zubiri offered a vast vegetable production area in Talakag, Bukidnon as a proposed resettlement site for beneficiaries of the “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program, an official said Saturday.

Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said that the area has an elevation of over 1,400-meters above sea level and a part of a declared military reservation.

“On Thursday morning, after spending the night in a small lodging house in Talakag proper, I and the team from MinDA inspected the prospective “Balik” resettlement area in the town. Residents will be introduced to high value vegetable production, including Strawberry farming, with the help of experts from the Cordillera,” he said.

The MinDA chairperson added that the Talakag Balik Probinsya Resettlement Village will be designed in the same pattern as the Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte model.

The area which was declared a military reservation by Presidential Proclamation 134 in 1963 by President Diosdado Macapagal straddles in the boundaries of several towns of Bukidnon, including Wao, Lanao del Sur. “Accompanied by Talakag Mayor Vergito Factura and farmer leader Ryan Daño, we were briefed on the potentials of the area for food production with the support of government through farm to market roads, small water impounding systems, solar irrigation and vegetable processing and packing facilities,” Piñol further said.

MORE BP2 RESETTLEMENT AREAS. This vegetable production area in Talakag, Bukidnon is eyed as a resettlement site for the government’s BP2 Program. Photo by MinDA.

He added that it was Gov. Zubiri who suggested that returning residents of the province from the congested urban centers are resettled in the area to turn the vast land into production areas for high value vegetable.

“They have to work and become productive members of their province, that’s what the Governor told me when I called on him three weeks ago as we introduced the “Balik Probinsya” program which is being pushed by Senator Christopher Lawrence Go and supported by President Rodrigo Duterte,” he said.

The program aims to shift development efforts in the countryside while at the same time decongesting the urban centers of informal settlers.

MinDA has already identified four resettlement areas, including the Talakag Village, in the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Norte and Bukidnon.

“Next week, the MinDA team will revisit Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Norte and Sur, Davao Del Sur and Agusan del Norte which are among the Mindanao provinces with huge numbers of residents who would like to come home from Metro Manila under the “Balik Probinsya” Program,” Piñol said.

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MinDA eyes Spanish sardines industry to end Zambo Norte poverty DAVAO CITY (June 4, 2020) – The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) bared that with the series of visit to Zamboanga del Norte, they have discovered that the Spanish sardines industry of the province would help reduce poverty incidence and improve the lives of the people.

Secretary Emmanuel Piñol noted that Zamboanga del Norte has a 500-kilometer coastline facing one of the country’s richest fishing grounds, the Sulu Sea where the “Tamban” or the Sardines fish literally jump to the shore right after a three-month Closed Fishing Season which runs from December to the end of February of every year.

“I have always believed that the poverty incidence level is the best barometer of effective governance but at the same time I am convinced that empowerment and capacitation, instead of dole-outs, should be the guiding policy in addressing poverty,” he 8

said.

Piñol said that a target has been set for Zamboanga del Norte to be taken out of the list of the country’s 20 Poorest Provinces in five years’ time.

“This is the formula that we will embrace; identify the strengths of an area, develop and strengthen it and set a target and timetable.

This will be the same formula which we will use as we wade into the ring in the fight against poverty in the other provinces of Mindanao,” he added.

Being the MinDA chair, he urged the workers of the agency that even as they pursue such big ticket projects like the Mindanao Railway System, Economic Zones and others, the poverty incidence in the different provinces should also be given focus.

“Discover the strengths and resources of each province and use those as the foundations in building a people-based economy which could withstand the shifting

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political sands. This was my marching order to the MinDA staff,” Piñol said.

I have decided to establish a MinDA satellite office in Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte because I believe that if we really would like to fight poverty, we should jump inside the ring and do the fighting, he added.

He said that the making of bottled Spanish Sardines, which is premium compared to the canned Sardines with tomato sauce, has long been a home industry in the province but the lack of access to the market of fishermen’s families prevented the industry from attaining its full potentials in improving people’s lives.

“The thrust now is to organize the wives and daughters of fishermen and improve their skills in making Spanish Sardines while supporting them with the basic equipment and infrastructure for the industry,” he said.

GAMECHANGER. MinDA Secretary believes that the spanish sardines industry (above) in Zamboanga del Norte is the key in reducing poverty incidence in the province during his visit to a sardines factory in Dipolog last June with former Dipolog Mayor Evelyn Uy (left).

Photos by MinDA.

Piñol also bared that the wife of Zamboanga del Norte Governor Roberto Uy, former Dipolog City Mayor Evelyn Uy, has already provided the template as she succeeded in organizing Dipolog’s women into a Spanish Sardines production crew.

“She established the processing facility along with the equipment and provided them with everything needed to produce bottled Spanish Sardines which she buys and sells to a hungry market. MinDA will work on this with the help of other line agencies 9

of government, including its partner ODAs who have been involved in the peace and development efforts in Mindanao,” he added.

He also vowed to assist the poor fishing families in the coastal areas, as MinDA will craft programs for those living in the agricultural and upland areas of the 700,000-hectare province.

Tree farming, along with high value products like Cacao, Coffee, Mango, Abaca and others could also help reduce poverty in the hinterlands of the province.

“In our consultative meetings with the leaders of the province, it was agreed that MinDA will partner with the local government unit in implementing these programs,” he further said. #

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Region 9 line agencies commit to support Zambo’s Balik Probinsiya implementation DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte (May 21, 2020) – Various regional line agencies in Region 9 committed their full support to the “Balik Probinsiya, Bagong Pagasa (BP2) Program”, proposed by Senator Christopher Lawrence Go and supported by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chair Secretary Emmanuel Piñol pointed out the BP2 program intends to lure or entice people to go back to their provinces with a promise of a better life.

“The program is an admission of our government that for so long our national development has been biased in favor of the urban centers.

Inequitable shares of government & national resources resulted in uneven growth of the country and people leave the countryside to find jobs in Metro Manila, other big cities or even abroad; the countryside is underdeveloped with low productivity,” he said.

Earlier, Zamboanga del Norte has agreed to establish the first Rural Resettlement Model for informal urban dwellers who want to participate in the said program.

In a consultation meeting on Wednesday (May 20), eight national line agencies vowed to help Zamboanga del Norte in their undertakings under the program.

For the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) IX, they said they are receptive to any of the program’s undertaking and they are very much willing to help in the implementation. The agency also expressed concern on the same program from the previous administration which didn’t prosper as there was no housing and livelihood assistance provided.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) IX also vowed to prepare livelihood programs and will be in charge of the profiling of the applicants as to what training will suit their skills.

“We will prepare allowances and tool 10

kits and we also have training on entrepreneurship for business. We encourage other partner agencies to give our loans and support to sustain the BP2 Program. We, in Zamboanga del Norte, are taking the challenge,” the agency committed.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) IX will incorporate their existing programs to BP2 like National Greening Program and National Forest Protection Program to provide livelihood opportunities.

On the other hand, the Department of Education (DepEd) IX, assured that under the program, the families don’t need to worry because we will give access to education especially students (grade school and high school).

The Department of Health (DOH) IX, also expressed their full support by providing assistance to capacitate the people and equip them with a health facility.

“We already have a system to address the health concerns of the people in Zamboanga del Norte, rest assured that DOH is supportive of this endeavor,” the agency vowed.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) IX, vowed to provide internet connectivity to the areas where BP2 will be implemented as well as computer services and ICT/digital jobs training where applicants can get online jobs.

Meanwhile, Secretary Piñol said that Assistant Secretary Carlos Magnaye of Department of Tourism (DOT) had suggested creating agritourism communities in the human settlements under BP2 Program.

“DOT has funds for tourism road facilities. Secretary Berna Puyat is really pushing for farm tourism and we can incorporate farm tourism in the farming industry in Zamboanga de Norte under this program,” he added.

Lastly, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) IX, committed to

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providing livelihood and starter kits for BP2 programs like the Pondo sa Paghahanapbuhay at Ginhawa and Negosyo sa Barangay.

For his part, Governor Roberto Uy said the province heartily accepted the program of President Duterte and vowed to provide economic-wise houses fit for a “barrio” so families will earn for their living.

“Let us not fear; we must go out of our comfort zone and challenge this problem. If all Municipal Mayors in Zamboanga will have teamwork, we will succeed,” he said.

Furthermore, Secretary Piñol said that the impact BP2 program in Zamboanga del Norte, for instance, would be a refocus in the use of resources of the government to the countryside for total and inclusive development.

“In Mindanao, I urge my fellow workers in the government that we should focus on self-reliance and sustainability in the implementation of this program or else like other programs, this would fail,” Piñol stressed.

He also added that MinDA, with the help of other agencies and donor partners, will focus on livelihood programs to complement the infrastructure program of Governor Uy. “Our target will be within the next 3 years, Zamboanga del Norte will be drawn out from the list of 20 poorest provinces in the country,” he added.

Piñol also said that before the end of May, the provincial government must have identified the family beneficiaries as the National Housing Authority (NHA) has downloaded the money for the house construction to Zamboanga del Norte.

“So that on the first week of June, heads of families are already working on the construction as we targeted the completion by September,” he added. #

Zambo del Norte to establish first BP resettlement area

50 hectares for the BPBPP Rural Resettlement Model good for 200 returning Zambo Norte families who are now among the informal urban dwellers in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu,” he said.

DAVAO CITY (May 6, 2020) – The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) confirmed on Wednesday, that the Province of Zamboanga del Norte has agreed to establish the first Rural Resettlement Model for informal urban dwellers who would like to join the “Balik Probinsya, Balik Pag-asa” Program (BPBPP) pushed

by Senator Christopher Lawrence Go and backed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Piñol said that Governor Uy also agreed that the first BPBPP Rural Resettlement Model will be focused on one common activity, preferably agriculture or fisheries based.

In a Facebook post, Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said Governor Roberto Uy eagerly volunteered his province to host the model BPBPP Rural Resettlement Community after MinDA presented the concept to during a meeting at the Provincial Capitol in Dipolog City, on Tuesday.

“During the meeting Governor Uy said the program could support his vision to lift the province from the ignominious club of the poorest provinces in the country.

He will also provide an area at least

“We will follow the recommendation of the MinDA that the community should be involved in a common activity with a complete value chain to ensure that the Balik Probinsya families will earn and stay home for good and contribute to our province’s goal of reducing poverty,” Governor Uy said.

The land area along with support funds to start a livelihood project will be the provincial government’s initial counterpart in the establishment of the Balik Probinsya Rural Resettlement.

Uy said after the first model is established, the provincial government will replicate it in other areas of the province with a land area of over 700,000 hectares.

Piñol said the Zamboanga del Norte Balik Probinsya, Balik Pag-asa Model Rural Resettlement Community concept will be presented during the next ZOOM Conference of the BPBPP Inter-Agency Task Force presided

by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

“Under the Balik Probinsya concept, it was agreed that that implementation of the BPBPP will be a “Whole-ofNation Approach” where each agency is expected to contribute to its success,” he added.

MinDA designed several models of the Rural Resettlement Communities under the BPBPP to include communal activities.

These include poultry raising, hog raising, goat raising and dairy production, vegetable production, tree farming and fruit production, cattle fattening, fish cage farming and even commercial fishing operations.

Another model designed by MinDA involves the establishment of processing facilities by private partners which will utilize provincial workers and local raw materials produced by both local farmers and Balik Probinsya, Balik Pag-asa participants. # the urban centers by convincing informal city dwellers to go home to their provinces.

Piñol said that Kalawit, the newest town of Zamboanga del Norte is a 4th Class Municipality with a population of only 23,000 in a land area of 22,000 hectares.

“While other LGUs have reservations on allowing returning urban dwellers to resettle in their area, Mayor Antojado says the arrival of the “Balik Probinsya” participants could result in the development of his town,” he said.

POTENTIAL RESETTLEMENT SITES. MinDA Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol personally inspects a potential BP2 resettlement area in Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte. Photo by MinDA.

Zambo Norte town awaits “Balik Probinsiya” settlers DAVAO CITY (May 22, 2020) – The local government of Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the first 200 families who will resettle in the said town, an official said Friday.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said that while other local government

units take a “wait-and-see” posture on the “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program,” (BPBPP) Kalawit Mayor Salvador Antojado Jr. is now ready to accept the arriving families.

The BPBPP which is pushed by Senator Christopher Lawrence Go and supported by President Rodrigo Duterte aims to decongest 11

He added that alongside the development of his town’s agricultural potentials, he also sees the transformation of the sleepy town into a farm tourism destination because of its natural beauty.

Kalawit is one of the two towns of Zamboanga del Norte identified as destinations for returning urban informal dwellers who originally came from the province. #

Mindanao Review | Vol. 1 Issue 1 | January to June 2020

Private firms support ‘Balik’ Program, offer jobs KIDAPAWAN CITY (June 17, 2020) - An agricultural trading company based in Davao City that exports coconut and durian to China has offered to establish processing facilities in Lanao Del Norte and Zamboanga Del Norte to provide jobs to returning informal urban dwellers under the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa Program of the Duterte Administration.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said that Eng Seng Food Products President John Tan intends to open up processing facilities for young coconuts to be exported to China and bottling facilities for Spanish Sardines in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

The company will also build a fish drying and dehydrating facility, and a glass bottle manufacturing plant, to supply the bottle needs of the growing Spanish Sardines industry of the Zamboanga Peninsula,” Piñol.

SUPPORT FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR. Eng Seng Foods President John Tan (second from left), MinDA Chairman Secretary Emmanuel F. Pinol, and Kauswagan Mayor Rommel Arnaldo sign a marketing agreement to allow Eng Seng Foods to buy produce from the BP2 resettlement area in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte.

Photo by MinDA.

The company, along with several other food processing companies, is looking for an area in Northern Mindanao where they could establish an Export Processing Zone using products from Mindanao, especially those produced in the BP2 communities.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will provide subsistence support. At the same time, the National Housing Authority (NHA) will establish housing units which the beneficiaries will pay on a long term payment program.#

Aside from Eng Seng Food Products, another private corporation, the GNPK Power Corporation, has provided support to the establishment of the BP2 Program Resettlement Village in Kauswagan, Lanao Del Norte, by donating the area for the village which is paid for in the amount of PHP6 million.

“Kauswagan Mayor Rommel Arnado said GNPK volunteered to pay for the land as its contribution to the program being pushed by Senator Christopher Lawrence Go and supported by President Rody Duterte,” he said.

The BP2 Program is an initiative by the Duterte Administration to shift the focus of development in the countryside by creating job opportunities in the provinces while decongesting the urban centers with informal settlers.

MinDA, which coordinates the implementation of the BP2 Program in Mindanao, has identified three pilot areas for the project.

The first group of returnees is expected to arrive in Zamboanga Del Norte on June 17.

“They will be kept in a quarantine facility for 15 days during which they will also be trained by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA),” Piñol said.

Review

MINDANAO

EDITORIAL STAFF

SECRETARY EMMANUEL “MANNY” F. PIÑOL Publisher

UNDERSECRETARY JANET M, LOPOZ ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROMEO M. MONTENEGRO DIRECTOR REYZALDY B. TAN DIRECTOR JOEY RECIMILLA Editorial Board

DR. ADRIAN M. TAMAYO Editor-in-Chief

JIMMY MUSA SAMUEL PONSICA ROSEMARIE ANN BAGUIO RICHARD DUCAY STEPHEN JUNE FAJARDO CHESTON MARK NAVALES SAMUEL SALDIVAR PREXX MARNIE KATE TROZO IRIS MAE QUIZO FRITZ FLORES Editorial Staff

Mindanao Development Authority

Old Davao Airport Terminal, Old Davao Airport Road, Km. 9, Sasa, Davao City Philippines www.minda.gov.ph | info@minda.gov.ph | fb.com/MinDAGovPH (082) 221-1345 | 221-6929 | 221-8108

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Mindanao Review | Vol. 1 Issue 1 | January to June 2020