DAVAO CITY — One can say that San Isidro Town of Davao del Norte is a municipality as it has the infrastructure facility fit to a small town, however, a deafening silence transforms with a cool breeze and a strange ambiance that sets the night.
Seeing the place by day, one can tell that people along the streets are happy and contented, because they got a very god natural water source, hence, a natural resource makes one feel comfortable and secured by the greenery that surrounds the place.
“It is silent at night, as it reflects a very low crime rate, next to nothing,” says Mayor Arnel Sitoy.
“Crime is almost zero, because we are peace-loving people, people stay inside their houses at night but during the day they are either in their farms or in their respective businesses,” he added.
What do you expect from a town with only P100-million share from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA)? A budget share comparable to only a barangay in some commercial districts of Davao del Norte.
It is small, but town mayor Sitoy said, “We are catching up because we work together as one people.”
The Municipality of San Isidro, is a 5th class municipality in the province of Davao del Norte, with a population of about 38,000. The town was created on June 26, 2004, after the ratification of Republic Act 9265.
The municipality is a picture of a thriving town which invites a wide room for agricultural and economic development as it sits at the boundaries of Agusan del Sur and Compostela Valley province. Agriculture is the main source of their economy.
The town is equipped with the basic market facilities but due to its proximity from the center of Davao del Norte, development is still underway. Good thing, Sitoy said, “the new administration in the provincial capitol is fully supporting their endeavor and has vowed to give support to develop the agriculture and tourism sector of the town,” Sitoy added.
Just after the May 13 elections, the Department of Health Formally opened the Sawata District Hospital with the help of Davao de Norte Second District Congressman Pantaleon D. Alvarez .
The opening of the P40-million hospital is a manifestation that his town is catching up with other municipalities. According to Sitoy, “we can now respond to the health needs of our people with presence of this new health facility”.
Lawyer Ana Alvarez, the chief of staff of Representative Alvaez said that the hospital is an extension of the Davao Regional Medical Ward. It is an infirmary hospital.
“Crime rate is almost zero, because we work hard to keep peace in our midst. People prefer to stay inside their houses at night but during the day they are either in their farms or in their respective businesses,” he added.
Municipal Administrator Allan Delideli said, “We stretch our t financial resource to respond to the basic needs of our people. But despite challenges, Delideli said that a culture of peace is growing in their communities, at the same time, their sense of contentment as they participate on economic activities being the town that produces ‘’Chocolate de San Isidro’ .
The CSI is a private entity which produced ’Sikwate’ as their brand and it is now making names in many countries, Delideli mentioned. The CSI has already gained international recognition having reached the standards set by international chocolate producing countries.
Aside from producing the best ’Sikwate’, Delideli also said that the town is now promoting other tourism destination which include the Cugsing and Kabyawan caves and Tugtugan Falls in Barangay Dacudao. Also gaining attention from local tourists is the crystal clear and cool water of Maltag Falls at Datu Balong.
But the town still prides of its premier Sikwate product. This is reflected in their annual ‘Sikwate’ Festival, at the same time, made it a center of attraction with huge Cacao display in all strategic places every October.
‘Sikwate’ is derived from a Visayan dialect which means chocolate drink. It comes from tablea, the “home-style pure dark chocolate tablets processed from 100% premium beans.
Chocolate de San Isidro (CSI), has produced one of the world’s best chocolates. The CSI is a private enterprise, hence, the local government units of Davao del Norte is slowly learning from their success story.
Sitoy said that his municipality is rich in natural resources and the quality Cacao production is a testament to that.
Davao del Norte Governor Edwin I. Jubahid has vowed to develop the Cacao production of San Isidro in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and other allied agencies of government and private sector who see the potential of Cacao Industry.
“Working together is one of our best tool to bring about change and development in our town. Slowly, we are catching up, and, soon we will develop as we build based on common strengths in fulfilling our goals,” Sitoy added.
