TVI

He is one of the three Muslim members of the Sangguniang Bayan or SB (Municipal Council) of Siocon, TVIRD’s host municipality in Zamboanga del Norte. A former second lieutenant in the Philippine Army, Boslon Danduh, already in his last term as town legislator, would like to be remembered by his constituents as a peacemaker and an environmentalist.

A member of Maguindanao tribe (one of the eight Islamic ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines), Danduh is one of the two Siocon SB representatives in the Multipartite Monitoring Team (MMT) (please see related story “Environment ‘watchdogs’ applaud TVIRD here), the “people’s watchdog” of the Mines Rehabilitation Fund Committee set up by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau to closely watch TVIRD’s compliance with the environmental and social standards set by the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

As an MMT member, Danduh has proven to be uncompromising in making sure that our company lives up to society’s expectations as regards its commitments to balance business objectives with socio-economic and environmental goals within and around Canatuan, TVIRD’s host community and ancestral domain of the Subanon indigenous people. When he thinks that things seem out of order, he calls a spade a spade. I would like to think that our efforts for continued dialogue and consultation with our stakeholders and the fact that he sees tangible realization of our commitments – through projects in the areas of education, infrastructure, livelihood, and health and sanitation – have made him convinced that, indeed, responsible mining is happening in Siocon. Barangay Makiang, Danduh’s home community, is among the primary beneficiary communities of these projects under TVIRD’s Social Development and Management Plan.

Thankfully, all our efforts have not gone unnoticed. Danduh, along with all his fellow lawmakers in the SB, have affixed their signatures in the resolution endorsing TVIRD’s Sulphide Project.

Danduh is not new to politics in this remote town in Western Mindanao. He was chair of Makiang, one the the 26 barangays of Siocon, in 1997. A year later, he ran and won a seat in the SB, which he kept without a sweat in his re-election bids in 2001 and 2004.

In the SB, Danduh chairs the Peace and Order as well Cultural Communities and Good Governance committees. His experience as a government soldier strengthened his resolve to work hard for peace in strife-torn Mindanao – true to the reputation of Maguindanaoans as a peace-loving people.

“I abhor violence,” he says. “For me there are no victors in wars; only victims. And it is usually the children who are the victims. I still believe much can be achieved through talking.”

Danduh, however, laments the difficulties of being an SB member. Aside from enacting laws, he is the go-to guy of his constituents, mostly from the coastal barangays of Siocon, who go to his office or even his house to seek for assistance.

“Politics in the Philippines is different from other countries,” he points out. “In our country, our people always run to politicians for help when a member of the family is sick or dies, when looking for jobs, when family has nothing to cook, or even during weddings and barangay fiestas.”

He shares that the latest law the SB has passed is the Local Revenue Code, which provides that all business establishments in the town will be required to pay an additional tax amounting to 15% of the original tax paid to the government. Danduh explains that the Old Revenue Law was passed more than a decade ago and some of its provisions are no longer applicable at present. He also believes that if fully implemented, the new Revenue Code will further help propel Siocon’s progress.

He has recommendations to TVIRD, too: build additional siltation ponds below the mine pit, and give the Muslim population in Siocon the chance to work for the company. The latter, he says, will be added proof that that there is no discrimination at TVIRD. His recommendations are being seriously considered. We have, in fact, accepted several Muslim employees in our fold, mainly in community relations work.

Danduh prides himself with having 12 children by his one and only wife Nurmilla. (A male Muslim is allowed by the Koran to have more than one wife provided that the first wife permits him and that he treats them all equally) Their eldest child, Jerson, is a Criminology graduate and already serving in the Philippine National Police. The second, 22 year-old Norsiba, is a midwifery graduate. His youngest daughter, Nor-iva, is one-year old.

“Boss” to his friends and relatives has no regrets in joining politics. After all, it runs in his blood. His father was also a former barangay chair of Makiang for many years.

At 43, Danduh does not have a plan to shy away from politics. Not yet. What he is sure of, however, is that he will continue to help the town’s chief executive in whatever way he can to unite the people of Siocon. His dream is to one day hear his townmates call themselves “Sioconians” and no longer identify themselves as either Subanons, Muslims, or Christians.

TVIRD, for its part, will do its share to help achieve this dream.