MALUNGON, Sarangani, Philippines – The local government here and the Department of Agriculture (DA) are set to implement some P9.7 million worth of development projects in the strongholds of former rebels who have returned to the fold of the law.

Local government agri-flagship projects director Nelson Sadang said the projects include the construction of a P7.7 million farm-to-market road that will connect the hinterland villages of Kiblat and Malabod, and the livelihood projects worth P2.5 million are to be implemented in the villages of J.P. Laurel, Banate, Kawayan, San Roque, and San Miguel.

Sadang said the funding for the projects will be taken from the DA’s Mindanao Rural Development Program and will be implemented early next year.

“The farm-to-market road project will provide local farmers the easy access to transport their produce to the local market,” Sadang said.

Formerly known as haven for cattle rustlers, Barangay Malabod, which is located in the southern part of this town, was also considered a hot spot area of anti-narcotic agents during the early years because of the existence of vast marijuana plantations in the area that straddles the triangular boundaries of South Cotabato, Sarangani, and Davao Del Sur.

In 2001, Mayor Reynaldo F. Constantino, backed by local police and the Army troops, scoured the mountain lairs of local bandits in a bid to encourage the lawless group to avail of the government’s peace and reconciliation initiatives.

The campaign resulted to the mass surrender of local rebels until the early part of 2011.

It resulted to the seizure of millions of pesos worth of marijuana plantations during a series of raids conducted in the former strongholds of local bandits.

Sarangani Governor Migs Dominguez cited this town nowadays as the most peaceful municipality in Sarangani, which serves as the basis of the DA-Community Fund for Agricultural Development to consider as its beneficiary of development projects.

Sadang said the concrete all-weather road project will not only benefit farmers but likewise school children who trek the muddy trail and cross the river for hours before reaching their school.

He added that the beneficiaries of the livelihood projects will be organized into people’s organizations in every village and those considered the poorest of the poor families.

The two major components of the livelihood project will be composed of crops and livestock, and the soil conservation technology or Sloping Agriculture Land Technology (SALT).

As this developed, Constantino underscored the cooperation between local officials and residents as the secret towards the development of the municipality.