Efren Piñol first got involved with MAFI in 1998 when he was appointed by his brother, then Governor Manny Piñol, as provincial administrator and permanent representative to its board.
“MAFI’s mission is aligned with my personal conviction that education is the key to enrich the lives of the poor,” he said.
When he was elected as mayor of Magpet in 2004, he applied what he learned in MAFI in governing the municipality. He made sure that Magpet’s local government provided scholarship assistance to indigent but deserving students.
“Our local government gave scholarships to 100 students every year. Since 13 of the 32 barangays in Magpet are indigenous communities, I prioritized giving scholarships to Lumads who comprised 70% of our total beneficiaries,” he recalled.
Learning from MAFI, he also created Magpet’s Tribal Council of Elders, composed mainly of datus, who advised local officials on Lumad concerns, including customary laws and practices.
MAFI was instrumental in making Efren materialize his personal mission of helping the marginalized. “My mantra in life is ‘Do it now, serve it well’, especially if you are in a position to do so. In the end, your name will be remembered for your good deeds—an experience that is both fulfilling and priceless,” he shared.
During his mayoralty, there was a strong partnership among MAFI, Magnet local government, and villages in implementing several projects, such as: day care centers in Barangays Bangkal, Kamada, and Pangao-an; construction of school buildings in Barangay Bongolanon; foot bridge connecting Barangay Ilian to Barangay Magcaalam; and, hanging bridge connecting Barangay Kinarum to Barangay Manobo. Also, both MAFI and the municipality partnered with the United Nations Children’s Fund in constructing a drinking water facility in Barangay Don Panaca, a project personally endorsed and visited by celebrity Gary Valenciano.
“I think MAFI should strengthen its environmental conservation program to help address encroachment issues in Mt. Apo. This can be done through constant advocacy work and effective program implementation in coordination with PAMB and other partners,” he reckoned.
Efren F. Piñol
Partner/Former Magpet Mayor
