By Loy PalaposA man who did not rest on his laurels after serving 29 years as dedicated, honest, dependable and respectable Officer of the Philippine Navy, Capt. Roberto L. Salinas, PN (Ret) is now sailing his own ship, being the indefatigable Mayor of the town of Catigbian, in the province of Bohol.
A once politically divided and sleeping town some 35 kilometers away from Tagbilaran City, Catigbian is a fast-developing municipality, now at par with the best, in an unprecedented turn of events that can only happen with the formidable leadership style of a man whose commitment for service is unquestionable. Mayor Salinas, even as a neophyte in the political arena, proved himself capable of doing his tasks in bringing unity among local government officials as well as in showcasing the town’s progress and development in just a couple of years after his election in 2004.
He is a pure Catigbianon born on May 29, 1959 to his parents: the late Juan Paraguya Salinas, a former school Principal, and Maxima Lacea Salinas, a former School Division Supervisor in Bohol. He has four brothers and two sisters who are also professionals in the fields of education, medicine and engineering. His parents, believing in his intellectual capacity, wanted him to be a doctor.
He took up his pre-medical course at Southwestern University in the nearby province of Cebu from 1968 to 1972. He finished his Masters in Business Administration at the Philippine Christian University in Manila in 1985-1986. He was convinced that it is not in the field of medicine where he can serve the people best. He has another calling: to serve the country as a Naval Officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Indeed, he proved he was right.
Prior to his retirement, he already gained the heart of his constituents because of his socio-economic standing and support to the development of Catigbian. He is a consistent donor for the church, chapels, schools, hospitals and even sponsor in various town activities like fiestas, sports and variety shows, among others. His wife Ma. Nerissa Yap Salinas, and their three children, Mrs. Noreen S. Privandos, a graduate of Masters in Business Administration, Nitzie Belle, a Certified Public Accountant, and Robert Ray, still a student, equally support his undertakings even to the extent of installing power lighting of almost 30 households in the remote barangays. The family was also able to send three students to school until they finished their college education.
Created by virtue of Executive Order No. 229, dated June 17, 1949, issued by then President Elpidio Quirino, Catigbian got its name from a seed-bearing plant called Katigbi that flourished in all parts of the locality. The seeds can be made into rosary beads, garland and other decorative paraphernalia.
After years in the doldrums, the town now sails smoothly. Mayor Salinas has a motto, “All for one; one for all†and his leadership is guided by the theme “Unity and Cooperation: The Key to Progress and Development.†His Liberal Arts exposure and MBA capabilities came in handy as an administrative expert. His military training instilled in him the value of discipline and fortitude. Consequently, he gained everybody’s trust and all municipal officials, regardless of political affiliations, support his administration by attending all major events, or even short programs. It was at the start of his administration when the first “KATIGBAWAN†festival was conceptualized and celebrated. It is a feast for human and spiritual satisfaction done every third week of June, in time for the Foundation Day of Catigbian. The second Katigbawan celebration last June 18, 2006 was so successful, with the full participation of all officials, department heads and the town folks.
Mayor Salinas and his council work hand-in-hand to welcome foreign interventions in order to carry out their mission to pursue sustainable development and improve the living conditions of their constituents through well-defined executive and legislative agenda. They too recognize the importance of partnerships and linkages with other government and private agencies. One of the foreign contributions to the physical improvement of the place is from the Government of Belgium under the Belgium Integrated Agrarian Reform Support Program or BIARSP, through the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
In the town proper, one can see a Savings and Credit Center or Members Savings Operation (MSO), a quasi-banking system. It is the Mantacida United Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative (MUFAMPUCO). From an initial capital build-up deposit of P33, 850.00 upon launching of the project in year 2002, it has now a total capitalization of P5.5 million. The banking system, assisted by BIARSP, has now a total of 953 members. They cater loan services such as business, honorarium, agricultural, salary, instant and emergency loan.
With the MSO scheme, farmers have now a capital to start economic activity other than farming. Housewives are doing entrepreneurial activities, like vending dried fish, spices, gasoline, and dry goods during market days. Some are occupied with hog raising and fattening and tending sari-sari stores. Needless to say, with the continuous support and guidance from the LGU and DAR municipal staff, MUFAMPUCO, with its dedicated officers and members, was adjudged as the Best Performing People’s Organization, in the entire Region VII for this year.
On the other hand, BIARSP also finances the water sanitation (WATSAN) system benefiting 60 agrarian reform beneficiaries. The operation is being managed by the farmers themselves. Marichel M. Rulida, the manager and one of the beneficiaries of WATSAN project, said that the ready and available water supply that flows from the reservoir and then distributed to the different pump stands, give ease to the household beneficiaries, that used to fetch water from distant sources. Secondly, residents are now more secure because of the scheduled water treatment that can assure safe and clean potable drinking water.
Other major developments funded by BIARSP are the rehabilitation of .920-kilometer farm-to-farm market road in Sitio Tuog, Causwagan, worth P952, 000.00, still within the Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) in Mantacida. Punong barangay Danilo Ambaic said that the road repair greatly help the farmers to have an easy transport of their farm products to the market. The said road repair benefits 150 ARBs and 25 non-ARB households, including the adjacent residents in ARC Buenos Aires of the nearby town of Tubigon.
In all BIARSP and other trainings conducted, Mayor Salinas is always at hand to welcome the participants. He always extends support in terms of snacks, vehicles and equipment and in whatever capacity he can muster in order to make every undertaking of DAR and other agencies successful.
During the recent visit of the Belgian Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Gregoire Vardakes, held at the Municipal Hall of Catigbian, the Mayor warmly welcomed the valued guest and his party and confidently said that “I am very thankful to the Belgian government for its generosity in giving financial assistance to the Filipinos and I am glad that the Catigbianons in particular are one of the beneficiaries. It is my pleasure, as the Chief Executive, to support with all my heart all undertakings of DAR in my town for the development of the countryside.†It does not come as a surprise that Mayor Salinas always reiterates his appreciation and gratitude to the Belgian government and the DAR family during interviews.
The captain of the ship now is the captain of the Catigbianons. He welcomes every major development that comes along his way, with a wish that all his constituents will be able to sail on smoothly like a ship in an ocean, with all of its systems in operational condition onward and towards happy and comfortable lives.
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Topic: A True Captain In His Ship: Roberto L. Salinas (Read 6903 times)