TUNGAWAN, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY — The fields of Tungawan stretch wide and quiet, broken only by the rustle of coconut leaves, rubber trees and the distant hum of a hand tractor. For decades, they’ve been symbols of promise — and frustration.

No mayor here, locals say, has ever truly unlocked the town’s potential. But Mayor Angelito Aniñon says there must be a change.

“Improved agricultural productivity is the key for local businesses to thrive,” he said during an interview with Daily Sun Chronicle. “If we want Tungawan to grow, we have to start from the ground.” Literally.

Land is the Key

Aniñon, a first-term mayor, looks at agriculture the centerpiece of his development plan.

Tungawan’s thousands of hectares of untilled land, its struggling fishponds, and its small yet spirited businesses, he believes, form the pieces of a larger puzzle. The challenge is how to make them fit.

“It’s time for Tungawan to grow,” he said. “The role of the local government is to orchestrate development — to make sure our farmers, fisherfolk, and entrepreneurs move together.”

For now, farmers face the same problem their fathers did: a market that’s either too far or too small. Their produce often ends up sold for a loss or left to rot.

Aniñon wants to break that cycle.

He’s exploring ways to link farmers directly with buyers, cut out middlemen, and set up collection hubs where to store the produce, and transport these products in bulk. He also hopes to revive the town’s aquaculture sector — a potential powerhouse of the local economy — by improving access to financing and technical support.

“Production isn’t the problem,” he said. “Marketing is.”

If Land Thrives, Everything Follows

The mayor’s push has already drawn interest from local business owners who see opportunity in processing and value-adding — from feed production to coconut-based goods.

“So far, so good,” one entrepreneur said. “We are hoping for the best of Tungawan under the new mayor.”

Tungawan has been under the Climacos, a durable political dynasty, for almost 30 years. In the last elections, Lalay Climaco Evangelista, the daughter of former Mayor Carlnan Climaco, lost to Aniñon.

To many here, the mayor’s message sounds simple: if the land thrives, the town follows.

“Our strength is right beneath our feet,” Aniñon said with a quiet smile. “If our farmers prosper, Tungawan prospers.”

About The Author

Antonio Manaytay

Antonio Manaytay is a journalist, editor, and pastor reporting for Rappler and leading the Daily Sun Chronicle. A 2024 Klima Fellow, he covers climate, governance, and grassroots resilience in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

See author's posts