PH, Hungary to roll our ‘Zone of Peace Dev’t project’ in Negros Oriental

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

NEGROS ORIENTAL— The Philippine and Hungarian governments in a partnership agreement will roll out the “Tamlang Valley Zone of Peace, Integrity, and Development Project” in Tamlang Valley, Siaton town in Negros Oriental in different phases from 2021 to 2024.

The proposed development project in Tamlang Valley is expected to bring infrastructure and institutional developments and enhanced delivery of social services in the province that involve two major components--agricultural development and social service and enterprise development, according to Provincial Agriculture Program Coordinating Officer (APCO) Sarah Perocho of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in a Kapihan sa Philippine Information Agency (PIA) here Tuesday.

The Government of Hungary has committed $100-M for the project, Perocho bared. The Tamlang Valley has a total land area of 20,000 hectares, but the project targets to develop around 4,000 hectares. The Valley covers the towns of Sta. Catalina, Siaton, Valencia, Sibulan, and Pamplona, Perocho added.

The PIA-Negros Oriental reported that under the agricultural development component, projects are focused on infrastructure including construction of roads and bridges, institutional development, and environmental protection while the second component will establish low-cost housing, hospitals, and recreation centers.

The Tamlang Valley Zone of Peace development project will be implemented by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA-7), the Provincial Government of Negros Oriental, and the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) with the goal of ending the insurgency problem in the area, the PIA said.

The target area to be developed initially is 4,000 hectares. NOCCI already submitted a concept paper to the Hungarian Government. The ambassador of Hungary also plans to visit Negros Oriental and talk with the heads of LGUs covering Tamlang Valley, Perecho revealed.

The DA with NOCCI are currently gathering resolutions from the local government units within the Tamlang Valley to support the project for the release of funds. “The LGUs are cooperative and the farmer associations are looking forward for the project to push through,” Perocho added.

Perocho went on that the implementing team has started meeting with the farmers associations and Sta. Catalina Mayor Peve Ligan on January 8 and positive feedbacks and responses are noted.  They want the project to begin as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Provincial Irrigation Officer Engr. Nestor Pastor revealed in the same Kapihan forum that there was already an attempt to bring development interventions in Tamlang Valley over the past years, but the project was stalled due to land issues and bureaucratic processes.

Pastor said the land was covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and he hopes the implementing agencies can address the issue and he added that NIA has a funding of P15-M to conduct a feasibility study in Tamlang Valley for the proposed irrigation projects there. (Photos: PIA-Negros Oriental)