"Follow the culture of excellence" - Gov. Migs

KIAMBA, Sarangani (July 8, 2010) – Reminding the people of one of the centerpieces of his administration, Governor Migs Dominguez urged parents Thursday (July 8) to usher their children towards quality education by spending at least an hour a day studying with them at home.

“Follow the culture of excellence to make sure that our children will have a brighter future in order to become successful members of our community,” Governor Dominguez said.

He added the province’s national achievement test for elementary school has greatly improved from 41% in 2006 to 69% last year.

Governor Dominguez led provincial officials in the turn over of checks with a total of P400,000 to four adjacent barangays Katubao, Tambilil, Datu Dani and Lagundi for community development.

“We owe this to the Kalinaw (peace) Program under the office of the governor,” Lagundi barangay captain Jose Huliganga said. The barangay received P100,000 for the extension of the barangay health center and birthing home.

Among the town’s barangays, Lagundi has the first and only lying-in center which can also be accessed by the nearby barangays.

Tambilil received P80,000 for the improvement of its barangay health center, P120,000 for Datu Dani’s Kadal water system expansion, and P100,000 for Katubao’s day care center comfort room, provision of chairs and deep well.

“We welcome private investors to join us in bringing development to our communities,” Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon said. “It is through counter-parting that we become successful.”

Governor Dominguez also emphasized the use of material recovery facility to protect and conserve the environment. The four barangays are among the coastal barangays of Kiamba where families are dependent of fishing at the Celebes Sea.

“We promise to take care of these projects which are truly helpful to us especially our children,” barangay councilor Delia Valencia said.

The four barangays are among the 50 peace and development communities identified by the Kalinaw Program.

The Kalinaw Program, now under the direct supervision of provincial peace program officer and deputy governor for MAKIMA (Maasim-Kiamba-Maitum), former Mayor Aniceto Lopez, Jr., won the Galing Pook award last year for innovative governance on peace and development. According to Hanafi Ebrahim, Kalinaw coordinators have been requested by municipalities in the region and in Maguindanao to lead the replication of the program in their own locality. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)