For
this issue of Silak, I posed the following question to the
listers –
“Given
the current financial crisis of the country, anticipated to
affect funds for Banton, as in any other municipalities, what
project in Banton do you think should be given priority by the
new municipal and provincial administration?”
Only
one gave an opinion though. Here it is:
The
municipal government with the full cooperation of the
Bantoanons should prioritize the strengthening of the power
sector. Banton is now blessed with basic infrastractures
necessary to establish a better social and economic status.
However, the power sector continues to deteriorate and it is
alarming that the present status of the National Power
Corporation would create consequences unfavorable to Banton.
The municipal government must tap resources in the private
sector to help in the study, planning and implementation and
evaluation of projects necessary to revitalize and
strengthen this important sector of development. The Bantoanon
community as well must be willing to accept changes or reforms
and that may include price adjustment in energy, energy saving
programs, tax reforms, etc.
One
of the reasons Banton can not have a self-sustaining
development is the lack of a reliable power. Once Power
is stabilized in Banton, other sectors like transportation,
communication, health, education, agriculture, etc. will also
take off. Power is the backbone of development, without
it economies of any community is doomed to fail.
Bantoanons
must cut on importing products like vegetables, poultry, and
animal feeds from nearby communities. These can be produced in
Banton, the municipal government and private sector must work
hand in hand to support our farmers and fishermen. There are
new effective technologies available in the agriculture,
animal husbandry and fisheries and these need only to be
transferred, acquired, learned and utilized by the Bantoanon
end-users. It is here where the local government and the
non-government organizations can play an important role.
Bantoanons
must learn to patronize our own products.
We
can not always rely on the National or provincial governments.
We must do it our way.
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