In a bid to reduce the occurence of crime, specially at night, local officials here had alloted substantial amount to rehabilitate the street lights along the national highway. The street lights along the national highway at the town proper have been off for quite a time due to defects and financial constraints.

When Mayor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr., assumed office, he prioritized the rehabilitation of the lights along the town proper and even the roads leading to the various puroks in the town proper.

"The safety of our commuters and of our people is of utmost priority" Tamayo said adding "This is the reason why we prioritized the rehablitiation of our street lights along the national highway and even in the puroks around the town proper."

"We also increased the visibility of our police forces at night by conducting a regular mobile patrol in order to reduce criminalities" the mayor said. "We hope that this would enable our people to walk and roam freely specially at night without fear" the mayor said.

Agri-Excel Farms Incorporated, a company run by Negros Occidental and Mindanao business conglomerates launches its first project, a banana plantation in Sitio Atbangan, Tubeng and Sitio Dahal in Palian, here.

Dr. Arnold A. Sison, one fo the eight incorporators said that the company aims to bring to bring social and economic development to the people of said barangays.

As of this wirting, the company has initially planted 17 hectares of the projected 50-hectare plantation and maintains 20 regular employees. Next year, the management projected to hire 20 more regular positions for their operations. They will also hire several contract workers depending on its needs. Employees hired are mainly from the area.

Hon. Councilor Arman Kasan, who represented Mayor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr., led the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Mayor Tamayo welcomes the company and urge his constituents to help in ensuring the company's investments.

Raffles and freebies were given to the attendees.

Tupi officials and employees are busy preparing for the 11 day festivities that would commence on September 1 – 11, this year, in celebration of the town’s 57^th founding day.

Bannered by the theme: “Agten Tufi: Iba’t iba man and Lipi, Iisa ang Minimithi” the 11 day event will start with a thanksgiving mass at Bonifacio Park in front of the plaza on August 31, 2010.

Civic and military parade will form part of the opening salvo on September 1, 2010. Other activities during the opening day are: Agri Trade Fair opening, Coconut and handicraft carving contest, drum & lyre competition, jobs fair for local and overseas employment, mass dance, live band and fireworks display.

Tupi Got talent, a new talent search pattern over the popular television show “Pilipinas Got talent” will start its elimination round on Thursday, September 2 till its semi final round on Sunday, September 5. Grand final will be on September 8.

The much awaited search for Mutya ng Tupi will have its talent night on September 7, Tuesday and the pageant night on Thursday, September 9.

Nightly live band shows will also be part of the 11 day festivities. Other events are tennis tournaments, cultural presentation featuring the South Cotabato performing arts, the tribal day, Dep-Ed & Municipal Employees night among others.

Street dancing competition will form part of the anniversary day activities on the 11^th along with the anniversary program, kickboxing tournament in the afternoon, the live band and the day will be capped by a grand fireworks display.

Paving the roads to increase local income and in making Tupi as South Cotabato’s trading center has started as Tupi officials are working hard laying down the framework for the enactment of the “Public Economic Enterprise Code” that would serve as administration’s core program for the next three years.

Nearly two months – since he assumed office, Mayor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr.,led his economic team, working overtime in strengthening the structure of the Municipal Economic Enterprise Development Office (MEEDO).

Series of workshops and consultations with local department heads were conducted.  The mayor designated Engr. Warlito Lauron of the planning office to head the MEEDO.

MEEDO shall serve as the integrator of all the economic enterprise sections of the local government, such as: the public market, drug testing facilities, hospital, public cemetery, slaughterhouse, municipal agricultural research and training center (MARTC), tourism facilities among others.

“Once these facilities are in place these will generate income and business activities will be seen and would eventually generate jobs for Tupinians,” the mayor said adding “ Our target is to raise our local income by 40% by 2013.”

Tamayo, the youngest mayor at 30 in Tupi’s history, is also preparing Tupi to be the province’s major trading center in the near future. “We will work for the continuation of Tupi – Banga road opening” the mayor said.

It may be recalled during his inaugural address, the mayor promised to increase Tupi’s local income by 40% by 2013.

Tupi’s income in 2009 runs close to P 98 million, P 76 million of which comes from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

Draft for the amendment of Public Economic Enterprise Code is already submitted to the Sangguniang Bayan for legislation.