By Rachelle Ann Vergara | World Bulletin News
Southern Mindanao, Philippines – After weeks of anticipation and the successful conclusion of the government-mandated fumigation exercise, the gates of Penn Plantation remain shut—its fields still silent and its workers still waiting. What was expected to be a moment of renewal for the community has instead become a period of uncertainty as the government clearance certificate, required to reopen the plantation, remains pending.
A Promise in Limbo
Government officials had earlier assured the public that once the final fumigation review was completed, the clearance for reopening Penn Plantation would follow “without unnecessary delay.” However, with nearly a week gone since health workers were seen packing up and leaving the site, that promise remains unfulfilled.
“We’ve done our part. The plantation is clean, the workers are ready. All we need now is a piece of paper,” said Mr. Liam Penn, owner of the plantation, in a brief phone interview. “We remain hopeful, but time is not on our side—especially with planting season already underway.”
Joy Tempered by Anxiety
Across the villages surrounding Penn Plantation, emotions are running high. The earlier joy sparked by the successful fumigation effort is now tempered by a growing anxiety. For many, the plantation is not just a place of work—it’s the heart of the local economy.
“We danced when we saw the health workers leave last week. That meant we were safe,” shared 43-year-old Magdalena Reyes, a fruit sorter from Barangay Del Monte. “But now we’re back to waiting. No work, no income.”
“It feels like we’re being forgotten again,” said Joel Abastillas, a plantation mechanic. “We watched people die during the bacteria outbreak. We waited through the fumigation. Now they’re telling us to wait again, but why?”
Local Officials Urge Patience
Barangay leaders and municipal officers have called for calm, stating that the delay may be due to “final compliance checks” at the national level. Vice Mayor Nilo Tacardon of Davao del Sur assured the public that the government is not intentionally stalling the process.
“The Department of Agriculture and DOH are conducting due diligence. I have spoken with regional officers, and there is no indication of sabotage—only procedure,” Tacardon said at a public forum held yesterday.
Public Sentiment: A Community Torn Between Hope and Frustration
Social media and local radio lines have been flooded with calls from citizens, expressing everything from cautious optimism to outright frustration. Some suspect bureaucratic bottlenecks, while others fear deeper political interference—echoing past grievances during the plantation’s temporary closure following the bacterial outbreak.
“We appreciate the care, but we’re dying slowly from hunger and debt,” wrote one local in a now-viral Facebook post. “If the plantation is safe, let us go back.”
Despite the uncertainty, there’s still a sense of unity in the waiting. Locals have organized morning prayer vigils near the plantation’s main gates, many bringing food to share, hopeful that each new sunrise will bring the much-awaited government certification.
As Penn Plantation stands at the crossroads of renewal and red tape, the eyes of Southern Mindanao—and perhaps the entire nation—remain fixed on whether the government will honor its word, or whether hope will once again be tested in the fields of Penn.