DAR goes to SPDA

In her 2007 State of the Nation (SONA) address, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced her administration’s Ten-Point Agenda  — popularly called “BEAT the ODDS” — intended to decongest Metro Manila and spur development in the countryside through the transfer of government departments to the provinces and catalyze growth and development.

The President’s previous SONA (2006) unveiled the Super Regions — Mindanao, Central Philippines, North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle, Luzon Urban Beltway, and the Cyber Corridor — “to spread development away from an inequitable concentration in Metro Manila.”

The first department to implement the President’s mandate is the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), which is moving its main office to Davao City — to the compound of the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA).

The other department to move to Mindanao is the Department of agriculture, to Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. The Departments of Public Works and Highways will move to Bicol; Tourism, to Cebu City, and Transportation and Communications, to Clark Freeport in Pampanga. 

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The conveyance of the SPDA property to DAR took place in Cagayan de Oro City the other day, with top Cabinet officials in attendance. Turning over the SPDA facility were SPDA Chairman Saeed A. Daof, and  Administrator Sultan Yahya Jerry M. Tomawis. Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser C. Pangandaman accepted the donation, and Undersecretary Zam-samin Ampatuan gave the closing message.

The “historic event” was explained by Secretary H. Bello III, presidential assistant for new government centers. That is, it is the first transfer of a national agency to a super region. The transfer is no mere whim of President Arroyo, he said, but rather out of her sincere desire to decongest Metro Manila.

Daof expressed full support for the President’s decision, saying that the Memorandum of Agreement reached by SPDA and DAR “demonstrates a united, strong belief in all of us about the advisability and need to bring or deliver the broader national objectives of the President to the grassroots level of our society, particularly in Mindanao. . . The transfer of DAR . . . is a blessing, particularly to the majority of our people who live in the rural areas, as this could mean more employment, more  development programs, and attention to Mindanaonons.”

Daof told me and other members of media that if initially he had shown some resistance to the turnover, it was simply because he was concerned about where the SPDA employees would go. But realizing that the move would be to implement President Arroyo’s “broader national objectives,” he is gung-ho on the transfer.

Administrator Tomawis echoed Daof’s optimism about the beneficial effect of the MOA.

Secretary Bello’s agency will turn over P5 million to SPDA to finance the relocation of employees and equipment.

For his part, Secretary Pangandaman, who had long been waiting to buckle down to work, said that DAR’s central office (DARCO), like all agencies, will focus 30 percent of its projects and funds on infrastructure and other projects in Mindanao. DAR is the primary agency that implements the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Usec. Zamsamin’s job is to oversee DAR’s projects in Davao. Interestingly, he is a former administrator at SPDA.

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The conveyance of the SPDA property will be ratified by the SPDA board of directors headed by Chairman Daof. The other members of the board are Administrator Tomawis, and National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) heads Gov. Aurora E. Ceriles of Zamboanga del Sur; Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo of Camiguin; Engr. Vicente T. Lao, Davao; Ma. Lourdes D. Lim, Cotabato; Carmencita S. Cochingco, Caraga, and Hadja Bainon G. Karon, Cotabato City.

I’d like to say more about SPDA, but so far, it has not held any board meetings nor discuss projects and accomplishments.

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The talk of San Francisco is the exhibition of works by a Filipino artist at the Rizal Room of the Philippine Center building at 447 Sutter St. These are 15 pieces by Luisito Ac-Ac, a famous sculptor and wood carver from Paete, Laguna. Carved  in detail, each bas relief depicts an important event (or scene) in Philippine history: the Tabon Cave, Chinese traders, arrival of Islam, the first Holy Mass, Sikatuna-Legazpi blood compact, the Katipunan initiation rites, Flames of the Revolution, Hero of Tirad Pass, Proclamation of Philippine Independence from Spain, the Malolos Congress, the Thomasites, Return of Douglas MacArthur, People Power 1, and Malacañang Palace. The impressive collection came all the way from Paete where Ac-Ac started to work on the panels in 2007.

A highlight of the exhibit opening was a meeting with the artist through a power presentation of his works; this part of the program was presented by the chair of the Museum, Lettie Figueroa, and the chair for the IT/Web Homepage Committee, Jose Gil III.

Philippine Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr. formally opened the exhibit. 

Timeless Filipino and Spanish music was played that evening by the Tradicion Rondalla, headed by Evangeline Maristela. Members of the Foundation, Cota Yabut and Jorge Flor Crus also performed with the rondalla group. A feast capped the evening.

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