By Alma L. Tingcang
TUNGAWAN,
Zamboanga Sibugay - The Department of Science and Technology
inaugurated on Friday, March 6, the first complementary food production
facility in the country in Barangay Libertad, Tungawan, this province.
“We
are very lucky to find a very supportive partner in the person of Mayor Randy
A. Climaco,” DOST-9 Regional Director Brenda
Nazareth-Manzanosaid during the blessing, turn-over and inauguration of theproject witnessed by partner agencies such as the Food
and Nutrition Research Institute, National Economic Development Authority,
Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Trade and
Industry, Department of Education and local government officials.
In his acceptance speech, Mayor Climacosaid,“You
are truly heaven-sent and I am very happy because you are working as a team for
the improvement not just of Tungawan but the entire ZamPen region. We have many
problems here especially on peace and order, health, education and these are
all inter-connected because of poverty and discontentment.”
“This is really a great challenge for us
local leaders. I was 37 when I assumed
office. I am 44 years old now.This is my last term and honestly, I would say
that I have not really achieved my targets to decrease malnutrition, poverty
incidence and provide livelihood to the people. So I asked myself, what else is
lacking? What needs to be done? Sometimes I cannot sleep because of the
problems that beset my administration,” the mayor humbly said.
“You inspire us to do our best. Please
don’t ever get tired of helping us.From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank
all of you,” the mayor said to the stakeholders.
DTI Regional Director Julius V. Sicat of
the Cordillera Administrative Region, who came all the way from Baguio said
this is the commitment of all partner agencies.“The situation here in Mindanao
is similar to that of CAR. This is one government intervention which need our
attention and support,” he observed.
Sicat recalls that he was assigned by Secretary
Montejo to take the lead role and implement the research activity on the
rollout in 2013, and found it difficult to handle. He is grateful to FNRI for
the unwavering support.
“We are very dependent on FNRI on technical
guidance, and I would say they are very selfless persons. This isthe very first
to be inaugurated among the 5 roll-out projects in 5 regions, the answer tothe
achievement of our Millennium Development Goals.”
He lauded Mayor Climaco as he recalled that
when they were still on the installation phase, a wire was lost. On that same
day, Mayor Climacoordered a replacementfrom Manila. “That is the first time
that I saw in a local chief executive such commitment, and that was my gauge
that the project will really succeed,” the impressed director noted.