Quick Notes on a Recent Travel: Diplahan

One of the towns that really exhibited impressive transformation is the small town of Diplahan in Zamboanga Sibugay's first district. The town's topography is characterized by extremes - wide plains and rolling terrain. Its Poblacion is located a top a mountain range elevated approximately three hundred (300) meters above sea level. From there, you can majestically behold the golden fields of rice paddies which made the town as the province's rice granary.

The town was converted into a Municipality in 1981 by virtue of Batas Pambansa 48 signed into law by the then President Ferdinand Marcos from being a barrio of the Municipality of Malangas.

The town's economy started to bloom during the height of the PNOC-sponsored coal operation in the Diplahan soil. Miners from all over the country flocked to work for higher wages. Unfortunately during the early 90's, a tragedy occurred, an explosion rocked the mine's tunnel killing almost a hundred. After the said occurrence, the mines' administration decided to cease the operation and together with the closure the once lively town of Diplahan became quaint and silent.

From that point, most of the town's economic activity were already based on small-medium industries and the thriving rice production in the town's plains. However, the agony was just temporal as several years later, private company ventured in the rich coal sites of Diplahan and started its operation there. This opened new opportunities in empoyment and business. Today, the town boasts to host the largest underground tunnel in the Philippines courtesy of a Taiwanese mining firm.

After the 2007 Election, under a new administration, the Local Government Unit started to revive the town's thrive. The new mayor laid a new architectural plan for Diplahan. He started to demolish the old public market and transferred it in a more strategic site. He built a covered court, a food court, commercial buildings and a new state of the art bus terminal. It can also be noted that there is a sufficient effort from the administration to boost the town's tourism potentials. He built a Municipal Hostel, Municipal Swimming Pool and the famed Diplahan Bamboo House. Sitting on this edifice while sipping a cold beverage reminds me of Baguio's Mines View Park as it offers a breathtaking view of the plains.

Due to its high elevation, fogs dominates the town's skyline during early morning and dusk. Driving along the town's paved streets can be challenging as you need to constantly open your headlights and offer a generous horn blow to announce you passage, or less you will end up bum ping to something you don't know. The temperature as well, sends shivers and chills to your body during night time and will extremely sweat you during day time.

The town's elevation is also credited for the unending water problem of the town. Although level three in classification as households has individual connection, it is still in the rationing basis. That's is why, deep wells are normal sights in the backyards of the townspeople.

Today, Diplahan slowly transformed itself into a major center of commerce and business to rival its neighbors like Buug and Imelda which are considered to be provincial economic tigers. Diplahan, indeed is a manifestation of that a a responsive local government is an essential ingredient to prepare a town's economic success.