Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino led the groundbreaking of the Microgridterprises project, a biomass power plant that aims to provide electricity for Manobos in Sitio Mambago, Kapalong, Davao del Sur.
Together with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Tolentino launched the project that aims to electrify isolated communities in the Davao region especially those belonging to Indigenous Peoples (IPs) such as the Manobos in Sitio Mambago.
“Hanggang ngayon, wala pang kuryente (Up to now, there's no electricity). These are our Indigenous Peoples (IPs). Biomass [energy] will probably help them energize the entire community as well as make them more productive,” Tolentino said in an ANC interview on Friday, Sept. 15.
He also underscored how isolated the Manobos are to the point that they can only access rice meals for only once a week.
“I just realized that even the staple food of the Filipinos, some IPs or tribal communities would be having rice just once a week,” Tolentino noted.
“Hindi po kayo nakakalimutan ng pamahalaang nasyonal (The national government does not forget about you),” Tolentino assured the locals during the groundbreaking.
He also urged the residents to unify in maintaining peace and order in the area.
“Patuloy po nating isulong ang kapayapaan at katahimikan. Dahil kapag may kapayapaan tayo at katahimikan, mayroon tayong kaunlaran (Let's continue to uphold peace and order. Because if there is peace and order, there is progress),” he said.