Lamba: Cleanest and Greenest Barangay of South Cotabato

How do you define a Clean and Green Barangay? Barangay Lamba is a living answer  to that question. Just last month, July 19,2010 to be exact, Barangay Lamba  was  awarded recognized  as the ‘’CLEANEST AND GREENEST BARANGAY OF SOUTH COTABATO”, such a privilege and honor to the said Barangay. Honorable Ernest Bustamante, the Honorable and very proud father of the Barangay is all smiles and overjoyed by the recognition given to them by the Provincial Government.

                So how Barangay Lamba did made it as the Cleanest and Greenest Barangay? The Provincial Government of South Cotabato set criteria for the said contest. They also sent out invitations through various Barangays. The criteria are as follows: Functional Segregation at Source   or (the presence of waste receptacles on Barangay Halls, Schools, Public Plaza, Household, Day care and Health Center(with special waste bins), presence of MRF, Regular Collection of Segregated Solid waste, Operational Composting Facility), Waste Water Management (well maintained toilets with sufficient water supply throughout the Barangay),Vegetation and Beautification  (Barangay Hall, Roadside, Playground and Park, Schools, Gulayan sa Barangay/Bakuran/Paaralan) which includes  medicinal plants as well, Support System (Functional BESWMC, Organizational Chart, Budgetary Requirement, Monitoring Mechanisms, Presence of Updated Action Plan on Clean and Green Program, Man Power Equipment) and Sustainability Mechanisms (Institutionalized Enforcement System(anti-burning of waste), Community Mobilization and Civil Society’s Participation, Presence of IEC Materials/Signage). These criteria were somehow possessed by Barangay Lamba which made them qualify for the recognition.

                The Barangay Waste Management is very well practiced and implemented. The beautification of their Barangay  especially their roadside beatification is ongoing . Time to time the Municipal Environment of Natural Resources Officer(MENRO) in the person of Mr. Elmer Tira is hands on and supervising the said Barangay. He also comes to the Barangay to bring supplies such as seedlings  for their Tree Panting program, in line to their Clean and Green Advocacy.

                Winners do have prices. They are recognized as the Cleanest and Greenest Barangay already, but they were also awarded with 30.000Php in cold cash for winning this contest. The Barangay Officials and the residence are very happy for their achievement. Both the Barangay Officials and the residence work hand-in-hand in maintaining the cleanliness in their Barangay. At present Barangay Lamba continues to grow, continues to work and continues to be Clean and Green.

THE NEW BANGA (HENRY L. LADOT ADMINISTRATION)

The Chief Executive address in the inaugural session of the 16^th Sanggunian of Banga presented his SEVEN-POINT-AGENDA in which, QUEST for QUALITY EDUCATION and PROVISION of EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES is one of his priority programs.

Being an educator himself, Mayor Henry Ladot emphasizes on the importance of quality education which everybody longs for. He is looking forward for more productive graduates from Banga by inducing schemes that would lead to improved educational services in this municipality. One of the schemes he proposed is the upgrading of the municipal library services with IT equipment for speedy and availability of ready references for researchers. The mayor also mentioned the organization of an effective and operational Local School Board (LSB), establishment of an annex high school in strategic barangays, provision of additional classroom and teachers to warrant an ideal student-classroom and student-teacher ratio and high percentage of functional day care and pre-school centre. To upgrade our education, he also proposed promotion of mastership among the faculties in various field of learning; scholarship grants for deserving students and quality non-formal and extension programs. If all of these schemes would be realized, we can have more “productive personalities” who hail from Banga.

The Municipal Mayor wants to regain the trust and confidence of people in his administration that is why TRANSPARENCY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE becomes his foremost agendum. Transparency in government transactions with active participation of both public and private sectors for better service in the community is what he wants to extend to his constituents.

Another is the AVAILABILITY of HEALTH SERVICES and ENSURING ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION and  PROTECTION  in our locality. He even recognized the role of Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and Barangay Health Workers (BHW) in the campaign for healthy citizenry that is why he wants to ensure that their operational expenses shall be provided every calendar year.

We are basically an agricultural locality so the mayor encouraged the SB members to be meticulous and fastidious in sourcing out funds for basic facilities in PROVISION of ROADS, BRIDGES and BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES. Since eighty percent  (80%) of our total populace derive their income in farming, he also proposed PROMOTION of AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY and LIVELIHOOD PROJECTS. He is projecting that if the SB could discern an appropriate legislative agenda that will support his program thrust in agriculture; it will not only increase productivity but generate jobs as well, thus, realizing our goal towards poverty alleviation.

Since revenue is the “lifeblood” of our municipality, one of the agenda is the GENERATION OF REVENUES, IMPROVE TAX COLLECTION and DEVELOP TOURIST ATTRACTION. Tourism is a lucrative source of revenue. Tourist spots must be identified and effective promotion strategy must be developed and designed.

Obviously, it is hard to introduce development in a locality with unstable peace and order condition. That is why IDEAL SECURITY for PEACEFUL COMMUNITY is one of the prioritized programs of the new administration. Human security includes disaster preparedness and so, the mayor would lobby for the adoption of Municipal Disaster Plan which shall be basis on counteracting the effect of calamity from pre-to-post disaster.

This initial and prioritized program of governance by the new administration under the leadership of Mayor Henry Ladot with the support of Vice Mayor Aguinaldo Inocente and the SB members will be a straight path towards progressive Banga that we all dream to be. (Jeanette Laguardia  Lozaga)