Unity spurs development

KIAMBA, Sarangani (February 18, 2008) – Officials have called for unity among Christians, Muslims and Indigenous People to spur development and economic bustle.

In celebration of Kiamba's 60th founding anniversary on Valentine's Day, Mayor Rom Falgui refreshed the spirit of bayanihan, calling it "Kiambayanihan", to encourage constituents' participation in local governance.

"The history of our hometown's creation, our Muslim and tribal forebears, despite their diversity in language and beliefs, combined their individual efforts to share one common vision which we cherish today," Falgui said.

For his part, Sarangani lone district Rep. Erwin Chiongbian said "this occasion calls to mind the friendship between and among the Muslims, Tbolis and Christian settlers."

"The bayanihan spirit is the time-tested social fiber that binds Kiamba," Chiongbian said.

"The spirit of community and unity has carried Kiamba and her people through six decades of building its own paradise that could be passed on from generation to generation," the congressman added.

Falgui, who is on his first term in office, reported the town has doubled its Philhealth card beneficiaries to 1,500 from last year and carried out innovative programs for agriculture and fishery five times more than the previous years' budget.

Kiamba is now producing abaca fine products, its "One Town, One Product," leading the "one barangay-one processed product" to the market.

Chiongbian also hailed the local government's initiative in tapping its tourism potentials such as waterfalls, eco-tourism potentials, beaches, and a marine sanctuary for snorkeling.

"Together with the sustainable use of our natural resources and the protection of the environment, your efforts to boost tourism shall also contribute to our Kiambayanihan and kagalingan (excellence)," Chiongbian added, "while we continue building our infrastructure projects."

The local government focuses on school infrastructure, farm-to-market roads and bridges sourcing out funds from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Department of Education, according to Falgui.

The "Rom Service sa Barangay" enables the local government to bring social services to the remotest barangays of the municipality for services in health, livelihood and support to peoples organizations.

"If our founders succeeded in building a community from this former forest land, let us by ourselves do no less of coming to light from hunger and lack of opportunity in our own time," Falgui said. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RGP)