A GOVERNOR aspirant from Agusan del Sur wants to replicate the best practices in Davao City in terms of development and urbanization while preserving the environment and its Indigenous Peoples (IPs).
During Davao media forum Saturday, February 2, Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) candidate for Governor of Agusan del Sur Lawyer Larry Clapis told reporters that Agusan del Sur is one of the poorest provinces in Mindanao. He added that for the development goals of their area, Davao City is the best model city.
“To my mind, Davao City is the model community. I can’t compare anything to this city,” Clapis said, adding that his goal to win the upcoming election would include sisterhood agreement proposal to Davao city in order to replicate the city’s best practices.
“For the sisterhood agreement, we can contribute skilled workers and maybe labor. Yung gold namin, pwede dito na din dalhin dahil andito naman ang Central Bank. Yung mga ganun but hindi dapat mga black market,” he said.
He added that while he wanted the province to develop and attract more investors, he wanted to strictly implement sustainable environmental platforms like organic agricultural practices and stop illegal activities in the area.
“Illegal mining and logging are prevalent activities in the area but if given the chance to win, I will try to curve these illegal activities and educate them on how to do it legally. If you cut, you plant,” Galedo said.
Like Davao City, Clapis said that Agusan del Sur is also composed of many tribal communities but the difference is that the IPs in the province are neglected by the local government.
“There are four tribal groups in the province, the Manobos, the Talaandig, the Banwaon and the Higaonon. They are the neglected part of the society and it is as if they do not exist,” Clapis said.
“They are neglected by the local government in Agusan del Sur in terms of sustainable growth and livelihood,” he said, adding that IPs in Agusan del Sur should have the same status as the IPs in Davao City.