The food basket of Tawi-Tawi

Batu-Batu was the more popular name known to people to designate the southeastern side of mainland Tawi-Tawi. The “new” name of the municipality is actually Panglima Sugala but people seldom use the name. The municipality extends southeast toward Belatan island, and the isles of Liaburan and Tanduh. There are three prominent features of the island. The first is its very fertile land. At one time, the farmers of Batu-Batu supplied the archipelago of Tawi-Tawi with cassava (the staple food of the inhabitants), fruit and vegetables. Batu-Batu is one of the most fertile islands in the entire Philippines.

The second is its deep natural harbor. As far back as the Spanish time, the natural harbor of Batu-Batu has served the region well in keeping the maritime security of the archipelago. Its protected harbor can be compared to Subic Bay in Luzon and Polloc Bay in Cotabato. During the early days of World War II, it was the base from which the Filipino guerillas operated. Today, it hosts the Navy’s Task Force 61 that patrol and protect the country’s southern waters. In addition to the rich natural resources, the island boasts of a special historical significance. Beneath its marshy waters and the forests of Dungon lay the ruins of the royal “astana”, the sanctuary built by one of the claimants to the throne of Sulu Sultanate during the Internecine War for succession in the 18th century. The Christian migrants settled in Batu-Batu in the early 50‘s as part of the EDCOR (Economic Development Corps) Program during the time of President Ramon Magsaysay. It was an anti-insurgency agrarian program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that settled rebels and their sympathizers in Mindanao . The Batu-Batu EDCOR experiment was an exception in many ways. Besides being the only agrarian reform program in the one time empire Province of Sulu, it was intended to become a pilot agricultural development model for Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.. The “settlers” were given home lot and farms to cultivate and they were under the “protection “ of the Philippine Navy. An agricultural school was also established in the place to train more “tillers” for of the soil for the islands and assist the local farmers reap the fertility of the land. Batu-Batu could supply all the neighboring islands including Sabah with casava, fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products. But the war of the early 70’s between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front had changed the relationships in the community as well as all the land programs of the place. The Christian minority with the Naval Station’s assistance have managed to survive the crisis and they were able to gather the broken pieces of their livelihood on their return to the island post the creation of the new Tawi-Tawi Province in 1973. One of the sources of their hope and strength during the dark period of their history is the continued pastoral care of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. When the Mission station was abandoned, because of the war, priests from Bongao would come on regular basis to serve few Christians that had remained and the personnel of the Philippine Navy that had a base in the island to secure the archipelago. But as soon as normalcy returned, Oblate priest with brave heart is assigned to the place. The present Provincial Governor is Hon. Sadikol Sahili. He was the Mayor of Batu-Batu for many years prior to his election as Governor. By coincidence he is an agriculturist by profession - a graduate of Musuan State University in Bukidnon from where his wife came. When he took over the leadership of the island, many thought that he would bring the dream to reality - Batu-Batu the bread basket of the archipelago. This was not so… It remains an elusive dream! With the young Sahili (the son) as Mayor and a development-oriented wife in charge of the municipality, the dream remains within reach. The EDCOR dream for Batu-Batu includes the Philippine Navy as an important component. In fact the dream of an agricultural settlement arrived at the place as a “program for peace” of the revitalized Armed Forces of the Philippines during the time of President Ramon Magsaysay. With the continuing security problems that includes among others rebels and the dreaded Abu Sayyaf Group, the participation of the Philippine Navy’s Task Force 61 is crucial in the development of the island. The Task Force’s Commanding Officer, Navy Captain Joel dela Cruz, is a gentleman and equally development-oriented officer. With the partnership of the LGU and the Philippine Navy, the island with its very fertile soil may still yield a bountiful harvest - becoming a veritable bread basket of these “Emerald Isles” and beyond.