South Cotabato mayor keen on progress

MANILA, Philippines - The mayor of Tampakan, a municipality in South Cota-bato, is confident he can make his town first-class within two years via public-private sector partnership, an anti-poverty antidote pushed by the Aquino administration.

Tampakan is a second-class municipality bounded by two fast-developing urban centers, General Santos City and Koronadal City. This town of 14 barangays occupies a mere 7.77 percent of the total land area of South Cotabato.

Mayor Leonardo Escobillo recognizes Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) as the private sector partner that will help Tampakan achieve its goal in record time.

The mayor, in a recent interview, cited SMI’s role and continuing support to the municipality toward achieving this milestone.

“I think the municipality will become a first-class urban municipality within two years. And hopefully within 10 years, we will aim for cityhood, as long as SMI’s operations push through,” he said.

Escobillo said local business opportunities grew in Tam-pakan when SMI started explorations in the town.

SMI holds a Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement with the national government to explore, develop and operate the Tampakan project, considered to be the country’s single largest direct investment.