MALUNGON, Sarangani—The mayor of this town and other local officials said they are bent on energizing the three remaining and isolated barangays by 2010 in a bid to spur economic development in their area.

In a statement, Mayor Reynaldo Constantino said his administration plans to provide electricity to the three remaining barangays of Lumabat, Panamin and San Juan following the electrification of sitios Tapcan, Malinis, Panamin and Kablala in barangay Tamban last month with a budget of P2.7 million.

“Our administration is consciously making an effort to equitably distribute development initiatives, where programs and projects are not just taking place in the poblacion, but spread out impartially to other communities,” Constantino said in an interview.

He said  the municipal government had allotted P1 million for the power expansion at sitio Malinis in barangay Tamban, and very recently his administration provided electrification to said barangay.

“We only have three remaining villages to be energized—Lumabat, Panamin and San Juan. This, for sure, will be included in next year’s budget allocation,” he said.

It was learned here that the local government unit of Malungon town has realigned the P1 million intended for road construction and repair to fund the electrification expansion project.

The South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (Socoteco), the sole power-supply distributor in Sarangani province, and Malungon town officials discussed their energization plans and programs, including the inauguration of the P2.7-million electrification project in Tamban.

Socoteco manager Rodolfo Ocat said the energization of Tamban, located 15 kilometers from Malungon town proper, was a joint undertaking of the electric cooperative and the local government of Malungon.

However, Constantino has also given priority to the construction and repair of two elementary and three primary schools at sitios Lamlinol, Ambang, Malinis, Pikong and Danao.

The project includes the construction of a basketball court donated by boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.