Vice Governor Nando Leads Benchmarking Visit to Panabo City
COTABATO CITY (July 22, 2025) — In a significant move to enhance local legislative practices, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Maguindanao del Sur, led by Vice Governor Ustadz Hisham S. Nando, embarked on a benchmarking visit to Panabo City, Davao del Norte, as part of their Capacity Enhancement Training on Local Legislation.
The delegation, which included members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and MILG Provincial Director Engr. Amina P. Dalandang was warmly received by Panabo City Vice Mayor Engr. Franklin D. Gentiles and the members of the City Council.
The visit commenced with a guided tour of the Sangguniang Panglungsod building, where Vice Mayor Gentiles shared insights into the city’s legislative operations and facility layout, including the session hall and council members’ offices.
A briefing was conducted by Ms. Leila P. Saligumba, DPA, Secretary to the Sanggunian, who detailed the office’s organizational workflow, archiving system, and day-to-day functions. The Maguindanao del Sur officials also observed the 3rd Regular Session of the Panabo City Council, offering them firsthand experience of local legislative procedures.
The group paid a courtesy call to Panabo City Mayor Jose E. Relampagos before touring the Anflo Industrial Estate (AIE) — a 63-hectare PEZA-registered agro-industrial park strategically located near the Davao International Container Terminal. Discussions during the visit focused on potential collaborations in agriculture, marketing, and logistics to benefit farmers and agribusinesses in Maguindanao del Sur.
The delegation also inspected the Panabo City Market Complex, a modern three-story facility currently under construction that will house 168 vendor stalls and feature motorized escalators, aimed at improving local commerce and public market access.
The visit concluded with a fellowship lunch at Hayay’s Restaurant in Barangay Datu Abdul, hosted by the City Government of Panabo. The gathering served as a gesture of goodwill and marked the culmination of a fruitful exchange in governance and legislative innovation.
This benchmarking activity forms part of a week-long Capacity Enhancement Training running from July 21 to 25, 2025, designed to upgrade the legislative competencies of Maguindanao del Sur’s provincial legislators by learning from best practices across local government units. (PR, BMN/BangsamoroToday)
