WITH the stable security situation and development effort being carried out by the local government, three foreign investors expressed their interest to put up their business in Paquibato District, which used to be touted as the hotbed of communist insurgency in Davao region.
Lieutenant Colonel Darren Comia, commander of the 16th Infantry Battalion (IB) operating in the hinterlands of Davao City including Paquibato and some areas in Calinan District, said that the government has been doing peace efforts in Paquibato and some investors are eyeing to construct businesses in the area.
He said representatives of a paper company from Tokyo, Japan named Oji Paper Company visited Paquibato. There were also Malaysians and Taiwanese who showed interest.
“Relatively peaceful compared last year and the previous years. Peaceful in the sense na for the past almost three quarters, wala na po tayong nakikitang armed NPA guerillas communist terrorist sa area ng Paquibato District,” he said.
He attributed these developments through the concerted effort of the local government and other security forces to champion peace and development in the area which has been the stronghold of NPA rebels.
“Sa ngayon natutuwa kami kasi there are lots of investors already considering na nakita siguro ng tao especially the local government unit of Davao City yong peaceful environment that the constituents as well as the LGU na maganda na mag put up ng mga investment and development effort doon sa area ng Paquibato,” he added.
Comia cited that these investors came after the launching of Peace 911, which aims to promote peace and development and give livelihood to residents.
Peace 911 also aims to address security, health concerns, education, infrastructure, and livelihood.
“With the creation of Peace 911 ni Mayor Sara Duterte, ang development effort po ng Davao City ay ibubuhos sa Paquibato District. In fact, just today, nandoon ang City Engineers Office na sa Barangay Pandaitan of Paquibato District, they will be inspecting the road na wherein bubutasin nila magkakaroon na ng road from Pandaitan to Barangay Salapawan,” Comia added.
(Development efforts will be poured in Paquibato District. Just today, the City Engineers Office went to Barangay Pandaitan in Paquibato district to inspect the road that will be opened from Pandaitan to Barangay Salapawan.)
He said that one of these days, the Malaysian investor will visit Barangay Salapawan.
The Oji paper company from Tokyo, Japan also visited Barangay Mapula and they plan to put up an industrial site there.
“Natutuwa po tayo na ito na ang sinasabi nating sooner or later makikita na po natin yong kagandahan ng Paquibato kasi nag thrive na yong peace, umusbong na yong development at patuloy tayong umaasa na sa effort ng local government ng Davao City as well as the cooperation ng lahat ng constituents lahat ng taga barangay, lahat ng tao sa Paquibato district, magtuloy-tuloy ito at magkakaroon ng peace and progress doon sa Paquibato District,” he said.
(This is what we have been saying that once peace thrives in Paquibato, development will follow. We are hopeful that the local government of Davao City will continue to help and all constituents of Paquibato district will cooperate.)
Comia also said that telecommunication companies Globe and Smart are eyeing to establish cellular towers in the area to speed up poor mobile connectivity in the district.
“Walay signal sa Paquibato proper ug majority ng barangays ng Paquibato. Ang naay cell site lang sa Paquibato is Malabog pero nasa southern part na ang Malabog and need na central and upper portion na magkaroon,” he said.
(There is no telecommunication signal in Paquibato proper and majority of the villages. Only Malabog has a cell site, but only the southern portion is covered.)
They already requested the two companies to expedite the establishment of cell sites so that residents will see tangible developments in the area and to improve the communication.