Town fiesta of Dumanjug, the brightest star of the south
My father's hometown, Dumanjug, is celebrating today and tomorrow the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Dumanjug is the 7th District's most promising star, having the biggest population and the highest annual revenues among the eight towns in the district of DRAMMBAG or Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Malabuyoc, Badian, Alegria, and Ginatilan. Dumanjug is the most progressive and the most promising among the eight towns in the southwest.
This town of the Gicas, the Garcias, the Quriantes, the Alpuertos, the Zozobrados, and the Amadoras is on the way to better economic growth under the able leadership of Mayor Gungun, Efren Guntrano Z. Gica, and his elder brother, Erwin Z. Gica as vice mayor, sons of the successful lawyer Edgar Gica and his beautiful and charming wife, the former Marna Zozobrado. Dumanjug is 71 kilometers south of Cebu City, bound in the north by the town of Barili, in the south by Ronda, and in the west by the Tañon Strait, which separates it from Negros Oriental directly opposite the city of Guihulngan, It is bound in the east by the towns of Argao and Sibonga. Dumanjug has a population of 51,210 based on the 2015 census. By estimate today, it could not be less than 53,000 residents.
With 36,705 registered voters, it has the highest number in the 7th District, compared to Badian with 26,418, Moalboal with 19,821, and Alegria with 17,015. Dumanjug has 37 barangays, the highest number in the district. It is the most thickly populated with a density rate of 600 per kilometer. Its annual revenue as of 2016, was P126,080,016.34 way ahead of Moalboal with P110,298,289.45 and Badian with P75,394,095.19. What makes Dumanjug strong are the following factors: Dynamic, aggressive, and bold leadership; the talents, wisdom, and creativity of its people; the industry, hard work, and dedication of its farmers and fisher folks; the passion and techno savvy of its youth; the hard work, focus, and relentless efforts of its teachers; and the strong religious faith of its people.
Under the leadership of the Gica brothers, the town's economic growth has tripled, the crime rate went down substantially, the drug menace has been reduced, and the peace, order, and harmony has greatly improved. The mayor is very dynamic, hands-on, and very close to the barangay leaders and the folks in all the 37 barangays. The mayor's leadership is characterized by the acronym DUMANJUG, that is Determined (kursunado), Upright (tarong), Multi-skilled, (lantip), Accessible (sayong duolon), Never-say-die (isog), Just (maki-angayon), Unifying (bug-os), and Godly (diosnon). I was invited to lecture on leadership to all the town's leaders last February, just before the COVID crisis. Congressman Peter John Calderon, and Ronda Mayor Terence Blanco also graced the seminar.
This fiesta is a challenging time for the Gica brothers because of the COVID pandemic. But the Dumanjuganons are not distracted from their faith in God, their devotion to St. Francis and their strong support for the leadership of the Gica brothers. I have high hopes for this town and I am willing to put my trust on its capacity to rise even higher in socio-economic development. Happy fiesta to my beloved Dumanjuganon brothers and sisters.
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