MUNICIPALITY OF UPI

HISTORY

Upi was derived from the term “Ufi”. It is a “Teduray” name for a certain tree that grows abundantly in the place. The bark of “Ufi” is used with betel nuts for chewing or “mama” in Teduray dialect. Tedurays are the native inhabitants of the place.

The beginning of Upi as a district geographical and political entity largely began on the early part of 1901 to 1910 when the American forces set foot in the then Empire of Cotabato. Today the province is subdivided into five (5) major provinces; Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sranggani and where Upi municipality is located. Upi is a mountainous town situated in the southwestern coastal portion of Maguindanao Province. During the early years of the American rule, Upi then a barrio of Awang, Dinaig, Cotabato (now DOS, Maguindanao), began to establish its role as a center of agricultural production in the province. The settlers and some investors immediately found Upi a promising area for Agricultural investments. Known far and wide, an American Army Officer Captain Irving Bryant Edwards was assigned to Awang. He showed great interest in bringing the government closer to the people by establishing school in the far-flung areas. He reached the fertile valley of Upi and founded the Upi Agricultural School on August 19, 1919. From a USAFFE soldier, the late Capt. Irving Bryant Edwards turned educator.

On June 10, 1955, by virtue of Republic Act No. 1248 otherwise known as “AN ACT TO CREATE THE MUNICIPALITY OF UPI IN THE PROVINCE OF COTABTO”. The barrio Upi in the Municipality of Dinaig, Province of Cotabato was separated from the said municipality and constituted the Municipality of Upi. This act was approved and signed by the late President of the , Ramon Magsaysay. The first Municipal Mayor, Vice Mayor and Councilor of Upi were appointed by the President of the Philippines to hold office. Maria Badoy was appointed as the first Municipal Mayor. In 1956, the citizenry was encouraged to participate in the political affairs of the and there took place the first election wherein Mayor Ignacio Tenorio Labina, a Teduray leader, as the first elected mayor of Upi and held his office for four year.

The following were the succeeding political leaders with their corresponding years in service: 1955 – 1956 – Appointed Mayor - Maria Badoy 1956 – 1960 – First Elected Mayor - Ignacio Tenorio Labina 1960 – 1963 – Elected Mayor - Datu Abdullah Sinsuat 1963 – 1979 – Elected Mayor - Datu Michael “Puti” Sinsuat 1979 – 1980 – OIC Mayor - ABC Pres. Harry Gullon 1980 – 1986 – Elected Mayor - Bai Fatima Palileo Sinsuat 1986 – 1987 – Appointed - Mayor Datu Mohammad Sinsuat 1987 – 1992 – Elected Mayor - Datu Mohammad Sinsuat 1992 – 2001 – Elected Mayor - Datu Michael Sinsuat 2001 – 2010 – Elected Mayor - Ramon A. Piang Sr. 2010 – 2011 – Elected Mayor - Atty. Ruben D. Platon 2011 – 2013 – Succeeded the unfinished term of the previous mayor-Ramon A. Piang Sr. 2013 – Present – Elected Mayor - Ramon A. Piang Sr.

In the May 2001 elections, RAMON A. PIANG, SR., the vice mayor of Upi from 1992 – 2001 and a Native Teduray, ran and won the seat of MAYORALTY. He was again reelected twice in the year 2005 and 2007. He has introduced various programs and projects beneficial the constituents of Upi. His present leadership is beong favored by all sectors through his Good Governance approach that includes transparency, accountability and tri-people approach in decision-making. With his accomplishments the Municipality of Upi was made known to the governance map of the Philippines through the various National and International awards that he received. Among others are:

a. Top Ten Outstanding Municipal Mayor of the Philippines 2003 awarded by the Senate of the Philippines b. Kaagapay Seal of Excellence in Local Governance 2004 awarded by the Local Government Support Program – CIDA. c. Gawad Galing Pook Award 2004 for the project Tri People Way of Conflict Resolution awarded by Galing Pook Foundation. d. Best ePractice Award 2005 for the project Community eCenter awarded by APEC Digital Opportunity Center – Taipie, Taiwan. e. Most Exemplary Individual 2006 awarded by Third Triennial Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. f. Special Citation on Community Communication 2007 for DXUP 105.5 FM awarded by Titus Brandsma Award. g. Promise of Hilal Best LGU 2009. h. Bantugan Awards Most Outstanding LGU in Maguindanao 2010.

Upi was then divided into two municipalities separating the 12 coastal barangays into another municipality named Datu Blah Sinsuat Municipality. Then Upi municipality belongs to Shariff Kabunsuan province after the division of the Maguindanao province into two but later again belong to Maguindanao due to the dissolution of Shariff Kabunsuan Province.

In the May 2010 election Atty. Ruben D. Platon won the mayoralty position and Upi was again recognized for its exemplary program Re: Project Rendaw – Better Education Through Community Action – by the Gawad Galing Pook Awards 2010. Atty PLaton was appointed to a national position as the President of the Philippine Public Safety College based in . Vice- Mayor Ramon A. Piang succeeded him in his unfinished term. During the term of Mayor Ramon A. Piang, Sr. the municipality of Upi continued to receive recognitions to wit:

1. Seal of Good Housekeeping (2011-2013) awarded by the Department of Interior and Local Government National. 2. Gawad Galing Pook Award for the Project Re: Community eCenter – Connection Rural Community Globally through Wireless Technology. 3. Seal of Exellence for Costumer Service 2011 – awarded by Civil Service Commission. 4. Most Outstanding Community eCenter 2011 (Finalist) – awarded by Department of Science and Technology.

Funding Agencies likewise continue to extend their development assistance to the Municipality of Upi in various forms ranging from technical assistance to infrastructure project among other are;

1. ARMM Social Fund Project (ASFP) 2. Rural Development Project (MRDP) 3. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 4. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) 5. Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) 6. Jollibee Foundation 7. Synergeia Foundation 8. Bangladesh Rural Education Program 9. Growth With Equity in Mindanao (GEM) 10. Kadtuntaya Foundation 11. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) 12. Mindanao Basic Urban Services Sector Project (MBUSSP) 13. Oxfam Mindanao Programme (OMP) 14. A Single Drop for Safe Water Inc. 15. Action Against Hunger 16. Plan International

Mayor Ramon A. Piang, Sr. runs unopposed during the 2013 and 2016 mayoralty election. Upi Municipality continues to show developments especially towards Good Governance. The following recognitions were received by the Municipality of Upi and Mayor Piang:

1. Civil Service Commission Dangal ng Bayan Awards 2011 (Mayor Ramon A. Piang, Sr.) 2. Philippine Digital Inclusion Champion Award 2010 (Mayor Ramon A. Piang, Sr.) 3. Jesse Robredo Leadership Award 2014 (Mayor Ramon A. Piang, Sr.) 4. Rafael M. Salas Population and Development 2015 – Awarded y Commission on Population. 5. Seal of Child Friendly Municipality 2015 6. Gawad Kalasag Award for Disaster Preparedness 2015 7. Seal of Good Local Governance 2016 – awarded by DILG