ZAPANTA VALLEY IP CHIEFTAIN VOWS TO SUPPORT GOV’T-INITIATED PROJECTS

Datu Lando Anlagan of the Mamanwa tribe recently vowed to support governmentinitiated projects. This development came after Secretary Isidro S. Lapeña of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) visited Sitio Zapanta Valley, Brgy. Bangayan, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte to grace the groundbreaking ceremony

By Robert E. Roperos of the Zapanta Valley Enterprise Center and a site visit to Zapanta Valley Agri-Tourism Enterprise Village. Speaking before the attendees composed of members of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC)-Agusan del Norte, Barangay Bangayan officials, and IP communities, Datu Anlagan stressed that with the government’s initiatives of bringing the services to their community, there’s no reason why they will not give their all-out support. “Ako nanghinaut nga dili gayud pasagdan sa gobyerno kaming mga miyembro sa tribu kay kami nakig-uban na man gayud sa atong panggamhanan… ug tungod kay nakita man pud namo ang sinsero nga serbisyo sa atong mga ahensya nga

anaa dinhi karon, kami usab sa among tribo nakighiusa alang sa kalinaw ug kalambuan sa pamuyo dinhi sa Sitio Zapanta Valley (I hope that the government will not forsake the tribe members like us because we are already one with the government… And since we also see that government agencies are sincere with their services, we from the different tribes are one in attaining peace and development here in Sitio Zapanta Valley),” Andagan said. Datu Andagan likewise said that because of what they have experienced for the past years living in a war zone, “we now want peace not war because we believe that development can only be achieved if there is peace in the area,” he added. Andagan is one of the three datus living in Sitio Zapanta Valley who earlier received the Tribal Hall which was turnedover by the Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (KALAHI) and the Provincial Government of Agusan del Norte. The PRLEC-initiated projects have been made possible thru the support of the Provincial Governor Dale B. Corvera, Agusan del Norte 2nd District Rep. Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba, and Kitcharao Mayor Aristotle E. Montante. (TESDA Agusan del Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)