The local government of Sadanga, Mountain Province returned over P1.47-M funding for the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
According to DSWD-Cordillera Regional Director Leo Quintilla, the funding provided to them is for 1,400 families but only 1,132 are qualified in the program.
As such, Sadanga, Mountain Province was the first local government to return funding to the DSWD.
Last March, the town went viral on social media after Sadanga Mayor Gabino P. Ganggangan refused to avail of food packs for his constituents, waiving it in favor of other more needy communities who are suffering in the face of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
"It is during these kinds of economic hardships such as "food shortages", hunger and famine that the "richer or better of" (kadangyans) among a clan or village are expected to aid their needy relatives by lending their surpluses. Should this crisis extend longer to the extent that our needy families really run out of their rice supplies, we shall mandate the kadangyans of every barangay to open up their rice granaries (agamangs) to sustain us through to the next harvest season. I assure that no family shall go hungry in our municipality even during these hardtimes." he said.
Former Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel "Manny" Piñol also shared his admiration for the people of Sadanga, Mountain Province
"They are poor but the people of Mountain Province are industrious and contented with simple living," the secretary said on a Facebook post.
Manny Piñol added that, this country could be great again if we could learn from the people of Sadanga, Mountain Province.
Imagine this. If all the well-to-do families would just refuse the food aid, then President Rody Duterte and the national government do not need to crack their heads finding funds to sustain the relief efforts.
The food packs and financial support could just be focused on families and communities who really need help.
The national government does not even have to borrow money from the World Bank or sell of many of its valuable properties.
How I wish we had more Mayor Ganggangans and Sadangans, poor but proud and self-respecting.
With many of them, this country could be great again and we as a people would learn to redeem our self-respect and dignity as Filipinos.
Sadanga, officially the Municipality of Sadanga is a 5th class municipality in the province of Mountain Province, Philippines.
According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 8,799 people.
Sadanga boundaries both provinces are Abra to the northwest and west and Kalinga to the north and northeast.
Did you know?
- The municipality is the only place in the world where the Sinadanga language is used. The language is highly significant in the Sinadanga culture, making its conservation an utmost importance to the survival of the Sinadanga people's traditions.
- The people also have their own back-strap loom weaving culture, epic chants for planting and harvesting rice, rice terracing practices, indigenous rituals to the gods such as the pumatay (a ritual where pawid stalks are burnt while cooking meat, then the food is served to the gods), and vernacular house architecture.
- The most prominent tradition of the Sinadanga people is the enforcement of the teer (day of rest) and closure of the village from visitors .
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