POOR LANAO TOWN BUILDS 6 SPIS, 1 WATER SYSTEM

While the whole world was virtually paralyzed by a Pandemic, a poor town in Lanao del Sur, Taraka, yesterday celebrated a Day of Courage with the start of the construction of six units of Solar-Powered Irrigation Systems and a huge Solar-Powered Water System. Present during the launching ceremonies led by officials of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) were Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) President Emmanuel G. Herbosa, Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong, Jr., Taraka Mayor Nashiba Sumagayan, Vice Mayor Odin Sumagayan and local officials of Lanao del Sur and Taraka. When completed 3 to 4 months from now, the six units of the SolarPowered irrigation System will cover a 1,000-hectare area for rice farming allowing the Maranao farmers to plant and harvest at least 5 times in two years, or an average of 2.5 times a year. The Solar-Powered Water System will provide filtered-potable water for the 25,000 residents of one of the oldest towns of Lanao del Sur. Both projects will draw water from the Taraka River which meanders through the town proper from the

mountains as it winds down to Lake Lanao. What makes these projects remarkable and historic is the fact that this is the first time a local government unit in Mindanao, specifically the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, dared to implement a project using its own resources. All of these projects are part of the Mindanao Water Supply Program launched by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) on Dec. 6, 2019 in partnership with the Development Bank of the Philippines, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the different local government units in Mindanao. The project is historic and trailblazing since it is fully funded by the Taraka Local Government Unit through a loan provided by DBP. Part of the loan proceeds was used to purchase roadbuilding equipment to build a network of farm to market roads in the town. This project has also become a symbol of courage for the Maranaos of Taraka and the workers of MinDA and DBP who pursued the project when most other officials of government stayed in the safe confines of their offices in the midst of the COVID 19 threat. Personally, it was a moment of fulfillment for me as a government worker as well because the philosophy of selfreliance in governance has finally been embraced by a poor but brave town in Lanao del Sur.

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