PIA DAVAO DEL NORTE (PIA)– Being assigned in the Ata-Manobo Municipality of Talaingod is such a challenging task for a military commander who has to contend not only with the native language, the mountainous terrain, but also with the fact that some of its villages are geographically isolated and depressed, making it a high recovery target of communist terrorist group (CTG) remnants.
But former commander of the Philippine Army’s 56th Infantry Battalion, Lt. Col. Osmalik Tayaban, was leaving Talaingod with a heavy heart and a reluctant mind. This he expressed during the recent change of command ceremony of the 56th Infantry Battalion that secures the entire Municipality of Talaingod.
“Mabigat sa akin to leave this area considering the attachment with you, the partnership with you, and and also we fall in love with the people we served, especially sa mga IPs (indigenous people) of Talaingod,” he told invited stakeholders of his project the “Tatag IP Student Dormitory Complex” located in Purok A, Brgy Sto Nino, Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
The Dormitory
In January 2022, the local government of Talaingod donated 2.6-hectare parcel of land for him to develop a multi-purpose
dormitory facility for the Tatag IP Students. Alongside this, he then thought of setting up a foundation to generate partnership with the private and civic sectors to fund the dormitory complex construction.
During the command turnover rites on Aug 11, 2023, the originally conceptualized dormitory complex for IP Students levelled up into an entrepreneurial establishment bearing the brand “Tatag IP Students Tourism Center.
It is designed to run a resort with swimming pool, restaurant, cottage accommodation and souvenir shop aside from the dormitory facility of IP students who was once either under the influence of CTG or whose parents were former rebels.
In a separate phone interview, Tayaban explained the multi-tiered benefits of operating the facility not only for the student-beneficiaries, but also for their parents who will be gaining employment, be benefiting in a profit-sharing, and be sending their children through college for free.
The “Tatag IP Students Tourism Center” is still for completion but some of its structures are already done such as the multi-purpose hall, the cottages, the swimming pool, car park area have been done.
The Construction
Integrating fuel and food supply expenses, Tayaban revealed that some P30 million had already been spent to develop the area and to construct the structures found in the complex with the substantial manpower contribution from the 534 Construction Engineering Battalion, from the 56th Infantry Battalion, and from the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU).
With the moral support of his high ranking officers and fellows from the Philippine Airforce and other Armed Force units, Tayaban generated substantial monetary support to the foundation he set up to fund the schooling of Tatag IP students while at the same time develop the tourism complex.
“Kahit anong for-a-cause para makalikum,” he revealed while profusely giving thanks to all benefactors whom he named each during the turnover rites.
Aside from applying troop bayanihan strategy to save on cost of manpower, Tayaban revealed to PIA that the structure construction and even the area rip-rapping made use of local materials found in Talaingod, particularly the stones and the supply of sand.
Stones were hauled from various areas in Talaingod to the construction site, while volumes of sand were drawn from some riverbeds of Talaingod.
Owing to the knowledge of his troops on Igorot-way of building construction, stones of literally almost the same sizes were placed on top of the other, giving the impression that the building is formidable from earthquakes and storms.
Continue the project
Tayaban still wants to see the Tatag IP student walk through college while also completing all the needed structures to fully operationalize the tourism center, but he has to go as he ends his two-year tour of duty.
However, 7th Infantry Division commander Major General Andrew D. Costela assured Tayaban that all his plans for his project including his dreams for the Tatag IP students, will be pushed through by his successor, Lt. Col. Emmanuel Garcia as the new commander of 56th Inf Battalion.
Costelo revealed before the public during the turnover rites that Tayaban will take his new assignment at the Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) based in Davao City, so he can still visit his project and meet his foster sons and daughters.
“Ipagpatuloy lahat ng proyekto ni Col ‘Malik,’ madadagdagan pa,” Garcia said, referring to Osmalik to whom Garcia assured to carry out the marching orders of the higher headquarters to see through the completion of what Tayaban has started. (JMDA/ PIA Davao del Norte)
