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Thursday, December 11, 2003
Task Force distributes seeds, cheques, condoms in Diwalwal
By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE National Task Force Diwalwal (NTFD) on Tuesday distributed seedlings, cheques and condoms to thousands of residents in Diwalwal, Monkayo town in Compostela Valley.
Around 5,000 condoms were distributed by the NTFD officials on its first ever visit to Diwalwal, where there is increasing incidence of sexually-transmitted diseases (STD).
Mt. Diwata Barangay Capt. Franco Tito, however, said there was no reported STD
case in the barangay health center. He revealed that the donation of condoms started as a joke.
Tito said a barangay kagawad jokingly asked a Malacaņang official for condoms earlier. He said they did not expect that the joke would be taken seriously by the official.
He however welcomed the distribution of condoms, hoping that it could somehow stop the spread of the disease in his barangay. Aside from condoms, NTFD chair and Defense Sec. Eduardo Ermita. along with Environment Sec. Elizea Gozun also distributed seedlings to be used for the reforestation program of the the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Diwalwal area.
Seed capital for two cooperatives in Diwalwal was also distributed by NTFD officials.
Most of the NTFD officials who visited Diwalwal expressed shock on the living conditions of the people there. Ermita said aside from the dangers posed by cave-in in mine tunnels, the houses have weak foundations and would be easily destroyed by a major earthquake.
Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Wencelito Andanar, however, said he was smitten by the beauty of Diwalwal.
He said Diwalwal could easily become Mindanao's little Baguio due to its
cold weather.
Andanar, however, admitted that despite its beauty, Diwalwal is in disarray.
He said Diwalwal is a "disaster in waiting".
She said aside from the reported increase of STD cases in the area, they
are also looking at child labor cases.
Yangco said she personally saw little young boys wearing hard hats during their visit there. "So ibig sabihin nito they are also into mining," she said.
(December 11, 2003 issue)
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